SUSTAIN PEACE IN TAMALE (Page 29)

Story: Vincent Adedze, Tamale

THE Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Iddris, has asked various pressure groups and residents of Tamale to make the metropolis a conducive place for the successful hosting of the Ghana 2008 tournament. He warned against acts that would disturb the prevailing peace in the area.
“We should be guided by the supreme national interest and not by our parochial interests,” he said.
Alhaji Iddris gave the warning during an end-of-year get-together organised by the Tamale Collection point of the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS).
The occasion was used to honour deserving CEPS staff.
He stressed: “We want Tamale to remain calm as we host the tournament; please let’s do our best to make the place a safe haven for our visitors.”
Alhaji Iddris said residents and pressure groups must respect the laws of the land and the judiciary, “a cardinal arm of government”.
“Tamale has enjoyed tranquillity for the past one and a half years and so nothing should be done to disturb the peace,” the minister further warned.
The Sector Commander, Assistant Commissioner Ernest Frimpong-Nuamah, expressed disappointment at the inability of his outfit to meet its revenue target for 2007.
“We were charged to collect GH¢46,190,000 but we could collect only GH¢44,493,908, which is negative variance of about 27.4 per cent,” he said.
He attributed the situation to low petroleum returns and the indebtedness of some oil marketing companies.
Mr Frimpong-Nuamah said, for instance, that oil companies owed the sector GH¢263,000,894 while the petroleum sector left a deficit of GH¢90,000.
He further noted that inadequate staff and activities of smugglers in areas like Makango, Salaga and Gushegu were critical areas of concern to his outfit.
“The vastness of the Northern Region, coupled with the porous nature of its terrain makes anti-smuggling operations quite difficult and dangerous and the success stories we have chalked up so far could be attributed to dedication and commitment of our officers,” the commander stated.
He further observed that the Ghana 2008 tournament posed many challenges and pressure on the collection point but expressed the determination of his outfit to intensify “our tax educational programmes”.