Fear Grips Workers…At GRA & CEPS

It has emerged that more than one hundred and twenty (120) workers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Customs Excise and Preventive Services (CEPS,) are living in morbid fear and anxiety of losing their jobs at the end of this financial year. It shows the depth of panic among workers, particularly the heads of CEPS and GRA, who worry they will be casualties after the government, through Minister of Information and Media Relations, Mr. Mahama Ayariga, hinted of major changes in the two state institutions. Cabinet on Monday, May 18, 2013 gave the green light to roll out a number measures aimed at stopping revenue leakage emanating from government agencies, and the latest move is believed to be one of them. “There will be some changes in the leadership of CEPS for the various entry points. Those ones will be announced very soon, also GRA leadership will be reviewed in terms of our efforts in dealing with revenue leakages. Some businesses are not paying VAT and taxes they are supposed to pay,” Mr. Ayariga said. Overall, Today understands that about 30 per cent of the workforce in CEPS and GRA fear they will be asked to go home. A recent visit to the premises of GAR revealed that 20 per cent were “not very confident”’ or “not at all confident,” compared to only 13 per cent at CEPS. At CEPS, Today can report on how jittery workers have become about the economy and their own job security. Meanwhile, scores of Ghanaians have welcomed government’s decision to sack CEPS and GRA workers who indulge in corrupt practices.       Source: Today