The National Union of GRA Workers are calling on the government to rescind its decision to remove Customs officers who were previously stationed at vantage points along the country’s trade corridors to help increase revenue mobilisation.
Government as part of the ECOWAS protocol removed a number of Customs officers from the vantage points to allow unhindered movement of transit goods.
The introduction of the paperless port regime also led to significant reduction in the number of checkpoints along domestic trade routes.
But the union wants the men back because their absence is impacting negatively on revenue generation.
At a durbar in Accra, the aggrieved workers also decried wanton interference in the work by their superiors and politicians, which according to them, restricts their overall revenue performance.
Secretary of the National Union of GRA Workers, Ken Tweneboa Kodua, said: “Those interfering in their work should put a stop to the practice of ordering custom officers and GRA staff to discharge and release impounded contraband goods.
“When you are not lucky and you want to act like a proper customs man, an importer from the port would want to exhibit his power over you and threaten to take your job.”
Another staff said: “The same people who came in through political appointments, have their children working as clearing agents who are using exemptions to clear goods. Is that not conflict of interest?
Although they fell short of mentioning names, the workers said the extent of interference is such that it will make it difficult for the tax collection body to meet its revenue target for this year.