Recruitment and placement in Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS)

Abstract

Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is a state agency responsible for the collection of taxes in Ghana. The role of CEPS is important because it collects about 55 percent of national revenue (Anipa, 1997: 11) but who gets recruited into CEPS has been questioned as there are several accusations by the general public about the fact that recruitment into CEPS has been shrouded in secrecy. Officers have also often been heard complaining that placements are not fair enough. Based upon these, the study sought to investigate the recruitment and placement in CEPS. Specifically, the study sought to investigate the recruitment process in CEPS; identify the methods of screening applicants; investigate the extent of transparency of new officers and investigate the perception of officers regarding recruitment and placement. The study covered 120 CEPS officers selected from the Head Office (Accra), Tema and Sunyani Collections. It relied on both primary and secondary sources of information using questionnaires and interviews as the major data collection instruments. The study revealed that CEPS kept a regular rotation of officers with most officers spending between one and four years at each duty station, but that the process was not transparently done. Also the process of CEPS recruitment was transparent; that about 25 percent of officers are considering leaving CEPS due to their dissatisfaction over placement and transfers. The study therefore recommends that vigorous public and internal assessment of placements and transfers be undertaken to address the challenges faced by officers.