BY NDUMBE BELL JOSEPH GASTON IN DOUALA
A release procured from the Littoral I customs sector reports that FCFA 53.918 billion was the revenue collected during the month of May 2023.
The statement was part of the results disclosed during their semi-annual coordination meeting (recently) on June 12. The said revenue is revealed to be less than the expected target of FCFA 58.896 billion which indicates an achievement of 91.55 percent or just lower by FCFA 4.978 billion representing 8.4 percent that had to be met.
Accordingly,although the Douala customs service did not disclose reasons for failing to attain all their objectives, the problems of refrigerated containers blocked at the Douala seaport, must have been responsible to slow down the performance of revenue collected.
Statistics have said that about 800 refrigerated containers of importables out of which over 600 belong to Congelcam, the importer of refrigerated fish products, were blocked at the port. Congelcam which is awaiting a visit by the Ministry of Commerce, owns 80 percent of the market share in Cameroon.
Although George Mendounga and his collaborators did not reach the percentage arrived at (91.55 percent) the figures realised so far represents 5,3 percent of the total revenue expected by year’s end. He then made it clear there are the many challenges that the workforce has to overcome.He was reportedly quoted as saying that all heads of units be aware, determined, committed and up to the task.
Globally, Cameroon is reported to be targeting a revenue collection of FCFA 1004.7 billion in 2023. Revenues are expected to be collected from customs duties, numerous seizures of fraudulent processes, contraband and counterfeit goods and penalties on the dumping of dangerous environmental wastes.