GRA: Customs border and tax offices need to be rehabilitated

The GRA Commissioner General was speaking during the recent joint session of the Public Accounts Committee and Public Enterprises Committee (PAC/PEC) of the National Assembly.

Otherwise, he noted, their continuous deterioration might de-motivate and distract the staff from focusing on their functions as revenue and preventive officers.

There is urgent need for motorbikes for enforcement activities, especially in the provincial offices, he said.

“Given the porous nature of our borders, customs guards, for example, depend heavily on motorbikes at various checkpoints or border patrol,” he added.

The fact that the last batch of motorbikes purchased was in 2009, there is urgent need for both replacement and additional bikes to meet their operational needs, he said.

“Inadequate vehicle fleet thus requiring the procurement of additional new vehicles to support our operations,” he further stated, adding: “This request is extremely urgent given the fact that more than a quarter of the vehicle fleets has exceeded their useful life.”