By Rachel Quartey & Rukayatu Musah
Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has charged newly graduated customs officers to uphold discipline, integrity, and professionalism in their roles to drive economic transformation. Speaking at the Customs Academy in Kpetoe, Volta Region, Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia, representing Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, urged the new officer cadets to be ambassadors of Ghana, not just tax collectors.
“These rigorous Customs and paramilitary training you have received has given you the technical knowledge, resilience, and ethical foundation needed to bring the change our nation needs. You are not merely tax collectors but ambassadors of Ghana to the world. Your daily interactions with traders or travelers shape people’s perception of our country,” Segbefia stated.
He added “I challenge you to be the generation that will transform Ghana’s Customs Division into a model of excellence for Africa and beyond.”
The Chief of Staff also stressed the need for Ghana to harness its resources efficiently, citing the changing global financial landscape and the impact of closed international funding sources on African countries.
“Now more than ever, there is the pressing need to develop home grown solutions to our national challenges. There is the pressing need to diversify funding sources and strengthen domestic revenue generation,” he said.
“There is also the need to reform our tax system, foster public-private partnerships, and seek innovative financing models. The message is clear, Ghana’s prosperity must be built primarily through our own efforts and resources. Self-reliance is no longer an ambition but an imperative,” Segbefia emphasized.
Graduating Class
The new Officer Cadets have completed their Basic Paramilitary and Customs training at the GRA Customs Academy. The training included lessons in customs regimes and procedures, goods examination and classification, leadership, basic psychology, and fundamental officer training. They also received practical training in monitoring transit cargo, weapon handling and firing, patrols, and using the integrated customs management system.
The 203 officer cadets underwent rigorous physical, mental, and emotional testing over nine months. At the graduation ceremony, Chief of Staff Alex Segbefia inspected a parade. Eight officer cadets, including three females, received awards for outstanding performance in various disciplines.
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Please I would like to be a custom officer