Let's Develop Through Our Own Efforts - Larbi Siaw

The Special Advisor to the Minister of Finance, Dr Larbi Siaw, has stressed the need for Ghana to rely on its own efforts for national developments. �The nation continuous to rely on the benevolence of other nations for development and it is time we take the necessary step to rely on our own for national development,� he explained. In this regard, Dr Siaw urged Ghanaians to contribute their quota to national development, as well as the collection of revenue. He made these remarks on behalf of the Minister of Finance at the 2012 Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) awards ceremony in Accra on Friday. The award, which was on the theme, �Honouring Optimal Performance in Revenue Mobilisation for National Development,� brought together staff of the GRA, as well as other corporate organisations. It was instituted as part of the annual calendar of GRA to appreciate outstanding staff of the company who had worked tirelessly in their field of endeavours to contribute their quota to the country in 2012. The Best Taxpayer, Customs Division, was awarded to Ghana Cement (GHACEM), for being the highest contributor to Ghana�s revenue whiles Prestige Cable won the best self-employed taxpayer for 2012. The Overall Best Manager from the Customs Division was won by Mr Yussif Adam Ibrahim, Sector Commander for Tema, and the Overall Best Manager for Domestic Tax Revenue was awarded to Mr Thomas Donkor from Achimota. Staff from other departments in all the regions of the country were also awarded for their performances in 2012. Dr Larbi lauded the initiative of GRA adding that the recognition of the efforts of staff and other corporate bodies would bring about fierce competition in revenue collection. He, however, called for the continuous contribution to national development by corporate organisations, saying, �Your selfless dedication to the nation makes work less easy.� In his address, the Commissioner General of GRA, Mr George Blankson, congratulated the awardees on their contributions to the company, saying that the celebration signified the company�s endorsement of hard work and exemplary conduct as the way forward. He called on employees to stand up and be counted in the quest to transform the organisation by observing the principles of effective performance management in GRA. Speaking on behalf of the awardees, the Sector Commander for GRA Tema Division, Mr Yussif Adam Ibrahim, urged staff of the organisation to help do away with the perception that the organisation was corrupt. He said it was a duty and the responsibility of all Ghanaian to contribute their quota in any way possible to national development. �Let us work hard together as patriotic citizens of the country by paying our tax for the development of the country and for the benefit of the future generation,� he said.