WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION DIRECTOR FOR CAPACITY BUILDING PAYS COURTESY CALL ON HONOURABLE MINISTER.

Mr. Lars Karlsson, Director for Capacity Building for the World Customs Organization (WCO) has paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu in his office. His call on the Minister was part of a working visit to the country.

Issues discussed were on Security, Trade, Corruption and Sponsorship. Mr. Karlsson said the experience from Ghana Customs would be shared among the other regions. Customs is vital for the development and facilitation of trade especially with trade being a key element for economic growth and prosperity.

Mr. Karlsson said the WCO’s vision is to be proactive in delivering and implementing international standard of Customs as well as develop capacity.

Welcoming the Director, the Honourable Minister said Customs has a very important role to play in the economy in that, “without revenue there is no economy”. He noted that in the borders and water territories, trafficking is a critical issue which needs to be tackled.

The Minister stated that Ghana Customs Officials at the borders need more encouragement in order to bring out their best, noting that living conditions of Officers in those areas are little to write home about. He therefore appealed to World Customs Organization as a matter of urgency to do their best to support those areas.

He further iterated that corruption is not peculiar to developing countries as may be widely accepting stating that as a human institution, Customs may be confronted with issues of corruption. He noted that future collaboration in that sector would be welcomed.

Hon. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu suggested the introduction of an evaluation mechanism whereby countries could be ranked according to their performance.

Mr. Lars Karlsson was accompanied by some Official from Ghana Customs and Excise Preventive Service (CEPS).

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