Ghana Revenue Authority Boosts Border Security with UK Customs Partner

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has formed a partnership with the UK's His Majesty Revenue and Customs to boost border security and enhance revenue mobilization. The partnership was signed in a ceremony attended by top officials from both countries.

Boosting Compliance and Protecting Revenue

The partnership aims to provide a platform for both countries to share knowledge about their operations, thereby boosting revenue. Commissioner General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, assured that this partnership will help to strengthen compliance and protect government revenue as well as support customs activities.

According to Commissioner Sarpong, the partnership will provide an opportunity for technical assistance and exchange of information on border protection and post-clearance audit between the two countries. He added that this will also be used as a mutual learning platform for all the parties and may extend to other countries where the GRA has collaboration.

Customs Reforms to Benefit from Partnership

The Commissioner for Customs, Aaron Kanor, highlighted some benefits of such partnerships for the division. He stated that this partnership will be a great boost to the reforms being undertaken by the Customs Division of the GRA. The exact nature of these reforms was not specified in the available source material.

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Deepening Relationships and Improving Trade

The Development Director at the British High Commission in Ghana, Terri Sarch, explained that both countries have a lot in common and hopes to use this opportunity to deepen their relationships. She was positive that this Memorandum of Understanding will inure to the benefit of cross-border trade as well as improve intra-African trade. The exact implications of this statement for intra-African trade were not specified.

The partnership is expected to provide a platform for both countries to share knowledge about their operations, thereby boosting revenue. It remains to be seen how this partnership will play out in practice and what benefits it will bring to both countries. One thing is certain: the GRA and HMRC are taking steps to strengthen border security and protect government revenue, and this partnership is a significant step in that direction.

Source: JOY