By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, July 3, GNA – The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has held a pull-out ceremony in honour of Assistant Commissioner Mary-Anne Okunor, the outgoing Sector Commander of the Accra International Airport (AIA), Customs Division, in recognition of her nearly four decades of dedicated service to the Authority.
The ceremony brought together management and staff of the GRA, colleagues from the Customs Division, family members, and well-wishers to celebrate her contributions to the growth and transformation of the Authority and public service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, the Commissioner-General of the GRA, described Assistant Commissioner Okunor’s career as one marked by commitment, professionalism, discipline, and exemplary leadership.
Mr Sarpong said she had served the Customs Division with diligence and integrity, contributing significantly to the advancement of the Authority’s mandate and strengthening public service delivery.
He said her calm leadership style, devotion to duty, and wealth of experience inspired confidence among colleagues and left a lasting impact on the Customs Division.
“Throughout her years of service, she has demonstrated admirable devotion to duty, inspired confidence among her colleagues, and left an indelible mark on all who have had the privilege of working with her,” he added.
The Commissioner-General further expressed gratitude to the family of the outgoing commander for their support throughout her years of service.
He also commended the management and staff of the AIA Customs Division for their dedication and support to Assistant Commissioner Okunor during her tenure.
“For the management and staff of AIA, thank you too for your dedication because if she’s shining today, it’s because the staff and management of AIA, she stood on your shoulders,” he stated.
The Commissioner-General also used the occasion to commend the Customs Division for its recent revenue performance, revealing that the division exceeded its June revenue target by recording GH¢5.6 billion against a target of GH¢5.3 billion.
He described the achievement as a reflection of the sacrifices and reforms undertaken by both past and present leadership of the Customs Division.
Assistant-Commissioner Okunor, said her career had been shaped by changing institutional reforms, technological advancements, and evolving customs policies, through which she witnessed and contributed to the transformation of Ghana’s customs administration and revenue mobilisation systems.
She expressed deep gratitude to God, her family, colleagues, and stakeholders for their support throughout her career.
She acknowledged the challenges and opportunities that defined her career, noting that public service had taught her the importance of integrity, accountability, professionalism, and commitment to national development.
The outgoing Sector Commander advised younger officers to uphold integrity as their most valuable asset, emphasizing that leadership was defined not by rank but by service, humility, and the ability to inspire others.
She urged officers to be diligent, fair, and respectful in their duties, encouraging them to leave every assignment better than they found it.
Assistant Commissioner Okunor highlighted key achievements during her tenure at the AIA, particularly the development of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for stakeholders within the cargo ecosystem.
“The SOPs provided a structured framework for the safe, secure, efficient, and transparent handling of air imports, from aircraft discharge through scanning, declaration, inspection, and final release of cargo,” she added.
She said the reforms enhanced collaboration among stakeholders and reduced delays in cargo processing at the airport, while improving revenue assurance and stakeholder experience.
She noted that her team documented the entire customs clearance process at the AIA, outlining operational workflows, stakeholder responsibilities, bottlenecks, compliance requirements, and opportunities for improvement.
The outgoing commander expressed pride in the Customs Division’s strong revenue performance, citing the recent achievement of exceeding the June target as a source of fulfilment as she concludes her career.
Assistant Commissioner Okunor also thanked stakeholders within the cargo and aviation ecosystem, including freight forwarders, importers, exporters, airlines, and other government agencies, for their cooperation in facilitating trade and enforcing customs regulations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade