Mr. Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority
(GRA) says, the role of Customs laboratories has evolved over time with changes
in international trade environment.
Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of two Mobile Laboratory Vans to the GRA’s Customs Division in Accra, Mr. Nti said: “The deployment of the mobile laboratories will help improve the response time for goods that arrive through the outstations and the country stand to benefit from a more secure flow of goods and increase revenue from International trade.”
The Mobile Laboratory Vans was procured with funding from the Netherlands under the GIZ implemented Good Financial Governance Programme (GFG) in Ghana and was presented to GRA to help combat illicit trade, anti-smuggling operations as well as protect consumers from harmful goods.
The vans will also be used to conduct tests in detecting explosives that might be present in cargo containers using modern technologies, determining the authenticity and origin of products using Fourier transform infra-red technology, detecting illegal imports like narcotics and drug precursors, and many others.
The Mobile Lab will be placed at the Ports and boarders daily to facilitate the clearance of goods, safeguard the environment, maintain security in the flow of trade as well as combat terrorism.
They would as well be deployed to a particular station, terminal or check point upon the request or directive of the Customs Scientific officer in charge and the Sector Commander.
Mr. Ron Strikker, Netherlands Ambassador to Ghana, explained that the vans were going to propel speedy and efficient clearance of goods and enhance right investment drive in the country, expressing optimism in the country’s drive in mobilizing more revenue through broadening the tax system through fiscal and ambitious investment programmes.
Dr. Nina Korte, GIZ-GFG Revenue Component Manager was delighted that the vans were going to improve service delivery of Customs and evaluate systems that would meet international standards.
Dr. Korte: “With the Ghana Revenue Authority, we currently work on a variety of reform activities with the Office of the Commissioner General, in the Domestic Tax Revenue Division, the Support Services Division and the Customs Division.
“I am happy to inform you, that it is in the support of the customs laboratory we engaged in the design and procurement of the two custom-built Mobile Laboratory Vans we are handing over today.
The vans will allow Customs to conduct tests right in the field, which will speed up processes and increase protection of Ghanaian citizens. The lab vans will hence contribute to the ease of doing business, better border protection and strengthened domestic resource mobilization.”
Mr. Isaac Crentsil, the Commissioner, Customs Division, was elated that the mobile laboratory vans had come at an opportune time when the GRA was going paperless on port transactions.
He added: “the units will enhance business operations of GRA as it has the ability to detect and identify items in cargo for export or imports through the use of modern technologies thus combating smuggling.”
Mr. Crentsil was optimistic that the donation of the vans would further enhance bilateral relations between Ghana, the Kingdom of Netherlands and Germany.
“It is my expectation that the two mobile laboratory vans would lead to an improvement in service delivery and promote the Customs vision of becoming more efficient,” he stated.
Assistant Commissioner of Customs Laboratory, Anthony Mensah, said mobile laboratories were very critical in improving the efficiency of customs work because they bring the customs laboratories out of the buildings on to the field, thereby permitting on-the-spot customs controls.
He stated that the vans could detect goods concealed in hidden or false compartment and they were also equipped with special signaling system and kits for screening food, drugs and industrial chemicals.
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