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The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) failed to meet its revenue target of GH�15.61 billion for 2013, the Commissioner-General of GRA, Mr George Blankson, has said. He said the authority fell below its target by 17 per cent, which, therefore, puts the revenue collected last year at GH�12.96 billion. Mr Blankson added that analysis conducted by the organisation revealed that revenue collected in 2013 was, however, 14 per cent above that of the GH�11.7 billion figure realised in 2012, contending that �the failure to meet the 2013 target isn�t for want of effort�. Mr Blankson was speaking at a ceremony in Accra to honour staff of GRA who brought their services to an end in 2013. In all, 120 retirees from the 10 regions were honoured for the dedicated services and sacrifices they made to the company. The retirees were presented with plaques and undisclosed amount of money. Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Commissioner-General said the authority would provide detailed information on the 2013 target at the appropriate time. He also declined to give reasons for GRA�s inability to meet the 2013 target. Achievements in 2013 Speaking on the successes chalked up by the GRA in 2013, Mr Blankson said beyond revenue generation, the authority was in the process of transforming its procedures and processes, among others, to enhance effectiveness. He stated that the GRA was able to set up the medium and small taxpayer offices and also integrated the operational wings of the former VAT Service and the Internal Revenue Service, creating one-stop-shop offices in many parts of the country. �In Africa, not many countries have been able to achieve this feat; even many of those countries who have engaged in this integration reforms for many years have not been able to roll out this project. This is an achievement we are proud to celebrate,� he added. The GRA, he said, was also able to establish the populace transaction concept, which was successfully implemented in Takoradi and at the Kotoka International Airport ((KIA); an achievement he attributed to the hard work of the retirees. On the Automation of Domestic Tax Revenue, Mr Blankson said GRA was able to develop the automation process to an advance stage and was on the verge of completing it. Advice to Staff Mr Blankson advised staff of GRA to put measures in place to ensure their comfort after retirement. According to him, retirement came with age and as such, no one could stop it, explaining that in less than two years the entire management of the GRA including himself would go on retirement. Mr Blankson also advised staff to accord the needed respect to one another and their clients adding, �this office you are occupying is temporary�. On behalf of the organisation, he thanked the retired staff for their services and pledged management�s commitment to put in place effective measures to ensure that their welfare was secured.