The Customs Excise and Preventive Service and Cross Border Crimes Management: a Case Study of the Eastern Frontier of Ghana
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THE CUSTOMS EXCISE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICE AND CROSS BORDER CRIMES MANAGEMENT: A CASE STUDY OF THE EASTERN FRONTIER OF GHANA by Francis Azure Junior BA (Hons.), M.A Int. Affairs A Thesis submitted to the Institute of Distance Learning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of COMMONWEALTH EXECUTIVE MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Institute of Distance Learning 30TH MAY, 2009 CERTIFICATION I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the CEMBA and that, to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree of the university, excepted where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. Francis Azure Jnr. …………………….. …………………… Student # 20065838 Signature Date Certified By Ben Honyenuga (Mr.) …………………… …………………… Supervisor Signature Date Certified By ………………………… …………………… …………………… Head of Dept. Name Signature Date ABSTRACT Ghana can boast of a vast sub-regional market of about 220 million people sharing cultural linkages across borders and having similar tastes. In order to benefit from such a huge market, the intensification of trade between Ghana and her neighbours is essential. At the community level, this commitment is seen in the persistent efforts by member states to ensure free movement of persons, goods and services across national borders. In Ghana, the institution responsible for the implementation of free movement and trade facilitation is the Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS). Over the years, cross border criminal activities have become a hindrance to free movement and trade. This is especially so along the Eastern Frontier of Ghana, which stretches from the border with Togo at Aflao to the fringes of northern Volta at Tinjase. The porous border here however, continuous to engender cross border crime and instability in the country owing to the lack of appropriate mechanisms for monitoring illegal cross border activities. Consequently, violent Cross border criminal activities such as Drug trafficking, Arms trafficking, Human trafficking, Armed robbery and Vehicle theft as well as non-violent ones like Textile smuggling, Vehicle smuggling, Fuel/Cocoa smuggling, Cyber fraud, Money Laundering and Counterfeit/Piracy are on the rise in this area in spite of the efforts of CEPS a frontline agency in managing these activities. Open-ended interviews with Heads of border security agencies such as CEPS, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Police Service and the National Security Ministry working in this area revealed the enormity of the problem. The negative socio-political and economic impact of cross border criminal activities in Ghana call for effective mechanisms to manage them. Hence, adopting sub-regional and complementary national control strategies will help to reduce the impact of cross border crimes. Effective options lie in a concerted effort at the sub-regional level between governmental and non-governmental agencies to combat cross border crimes. Appropriate national legislative and regulatory actions, to upgrade skills in investigative and enforcement techniques, and addressing corruption within government security agencies in order to avoid complicit acts by government and security agencies. DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my lovely wife Monica for her relentless support. TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Certification … … … … … … … … … … … …. … ii Abstract … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … iii Dedication … … … … … … … … … … … … … … v Table of Contents … … … … … … … … … … … … vi Abbreviations … … … … … … … … … … … … … xi Acknowledgement … … … … … … … … … … … … xiii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 Overview of the Study … … … … … … … … … … … 1 1.2 Problem Statement … … … … … … … … … … … … 2 1.3 Objectives of the Study … … … … … … … … … … … 4 1.4 Significance of the Research … … … … … … … … … … 5 1.5 Scope of Study … … … … … … … … … … … … … 5 1.6 Hypothesis … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 6 1.7 Methodology … … … … … … … … … … … … … 6 1.8 Organization of Study … … … … … … … … … … … 7 1.9 Limitation of Study … … … … … … … … … … … … 7 1.10 Definitions … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 7 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Theoretical Framework … … … … … … … … … … 14 2.1.1 Functionalism … … … … … … … … … … … … 14 2.1.2 Neo-Functionalism … … … … … … … … … … … 15 2.2 International Integration … … … … … … … … … … 19 2.3 Crime Theories … … … … … … … … … … … … … 21 2.4 A Brief History of CEPS … … … … … … … … … … 23 2.4.1 Organizational Structure … … … … … … … … … … 26 2.4.2 Organogram … … … … … … … … … … … … … 27 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.1 Research Design … … … … … … … … … … … … 28 3.2 Study Area … … … … … … … … … … … … … 28 3.3 Sampling Procedure … … … … … … … … … … … 29 3.4 Data Collection Procedure … … … … … … … … … … 29 3.5 Data Analysis Method … … … … … … … … … … … 30 CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION INTRODUCTION 4.1 Findings … … … … … … … … … … … … … … 32 4.1.1 Vehicle Theft … … … … … … … … … … … … … 32 4.1.2 Vehicle Tax Evasion … … … … … … … … … … … 36 4.1.4 Textile Smuggling … … … … … … … … … … … … 39 4.1.5 Armed Robbery … … … … … … … … … … … … 40 4.1.6 Cocoa / Fuel Smuggling … … … … … … … … … … 41 4.1.7 Arms Trafficking … … … … … … … … … … … … 42 4.1.8 Human Trafficking … … … … … … … … … … … 43 4.1.9 Narcotics … … … … … … … … … … … … … 43 4.1.10 Internet Fraud/Money Laundering … … … … … … … 44 4.1.11Counterfeiting/Piracy … … … … … … … … … … 45 4.2. Analysis and Interpretation … … … … … … … … … 47 4.2.1 Reasons for Increase in Cross Border Crimes … … … … … 51 4.2.2 Porous Border … … … … … … … … … … … … 51 4.2.3 Ease of Movement … … … … … … … … … … … 52 4.3.5 Differences in Tariffs between Ghana and Her Neighbours … … 53 4.3.6 Ghana’s Proximity to Nigeria … … … … … … … … … 54 4.3.7 Ghanaian Hospitality … … … … … … … … … … … 56 4.3.8 Lack of Inter- Agency Collaboration … … … … … … … 57 4.4.0 Impact of Cross Border Crimes in Ghana … … … … … … 57 4.4.1 Economic Impact … … … … … … … … … … … 58 4.4.2 Social Impact … … … … … … … … … … … … 60 4.4.3 Political Impact … … … … … … … … … … … … 61 4.4.4 Relations With Neighbours … … … … … … … … … 62 CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 5.1 Summary … … … … … … … … … … … … … 64 5.2 Conclusion … … … … … … … … … … … … 66 5.3 Hypothesis Testing … … … … … … … … … … … 66 5.4 Recommendations … … … … … … … … … … … 68 5.3 Appendix I … … … … … … … … … … … … … 69 5.4 Appendix II … … … … … … … … … … … … … 70 5.5 Appendix III … … … … … … … … … … … … … 71 ABBREVIATION ACP Assistant Commissioner of Police BNI Bureau of National Investigations CID Criminal Investigations Department CEPS Customs Excise and Preventive Service COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CPCJC Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Centre ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ERW Explosive Remnants of War FDI Foreign Direct Investment GCMS Ghana Customs Management System GCNet Ghana Community Network GIPC Ghana Investment Promotion Centre IRS Internal Revenue Service INTERPOL International Police KIA Kotoka International Airport NRCD National Redemption Council Decree PNDC Provisional National Defence Council SACU Southern African Customs Union SAD Single Administrative Document SADC Southern African Development Corporation SUV Sports Utility Vehicle UEMOA Union Economique Monetaire Occidental d’Afrique UNCICP United Nations Centre for International Crime Prevention UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime VAT Value Added Tax WTO World Trade Organization ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My profound appreciation goes to the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient God for helping me complete this task. I am also deeply indebted to my supervisor, Mr. Ben Hoenyenuga, for his encouragement, comments and expert assistance throughout this study. Many thanks go to my classmates especially Yawson, Victor, Robert, Asare, Nana and Emmanuel. Nonetheless, I must state that any errors that persist in this study are entirely my own. CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY The Customs Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) was established in 1939 as the Customs and Excise Department of the Gold Coast. It was tasked with the responsibility of collecting and accounting for government revenue through indirect taxes from ports, harbours and approved points of entry (History of CEPS 1999). CEPS has since become a major source of revenue generation in the country, collecting between 50% - 60% of internally generated revenue for government. (www.cepsghana.org accessed 13th January, 2009). In addition, CEPS performs non-revenue functions involving the enforcement of laws regarding facilitation of international trade, imports and export restrictions, exchange control, public safety and other interests of state on behalf of public institutions such as the Standard Board, Food and Drugs Board, Plant Quarantine and the Value Added Tax Service (VAT). In recent times and in line with Government policy on trade especially the need to strengthen intra – regional trade, CEPS has had to marry its traditional role of revenue collection with trade facilitation. This addition is traceable to government’s desire to implement Article 2(2) and Article 27 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) protocol on free movement of persons, goods and services. It is worthy to note that, the idea of Economic integration as envisioned by the founding fathers of ECOWAS