The Anti-Revenue Leakages Special Monitoring Team of the Ghana Revenue Authority has declared war on importers and revenue collectors whose activities cause huge revenue losses to the state. Officials say the use of the country’s borders for illegal rice importation and un-customed vehicles threaten the stability of Ghana’s economy. Apart from revenue loss to the state, illegal rice importation is said to be killing the local rice industry. Nhyira FM at the weekend chanced on the team busily monitoring activities at Sampa, Osei Kwadwokrom and other towns along the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire border which is rated as a key route for such activities. The leader of the monitoring team, Thomas Mills told Nhyira FM the issue has taken a national dimension because of its severity. He is calling for stiffer sanctions against people whose acts and omissions lead to loss of revenue. Mr. Mills suggested the withdrawal of licenses of clearing agents caught in malpractices. The GRA is worried that the Ashanti region is fast becoming a revenue malpractice zone. According to the Anti-Revenue Leakages Special Monitoring team, the region has become the destination for offloading transit goods. Mr. Mills described Kumasi as the hub of illegal registration of un-customed vehicles and urged the general public to volunteer information to help the Revenue Protection Unit which is liaising with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, transport unions, the Ministry of Transport and the National Insurance Commission to curtail illegal vehicle registration. Story by Ohemeng Tawiah/Nhyira FM-Kumasi