Commissioner Kuudamnuru ‘pulled out’ of service
The immediate past Commissioner, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr John Vianney Kuudamnuru, has been “pulled out” of the service after 35 years of dedicated service.
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The pulling out ceremony, a symbolism of his retirement, came off last Friday at the Customs Headquarters in Accra. It started with a rifle display by a contingent of the Customs Division and climaxed with senior officers pulling a pick-up vehicle which carried Mr Kuudamnuru.
Amidst cheers and applause from his colleagues and invited guests, who had lined up the streets of the customs headquarters, the former commissioner was gracefully “pulled out’’ of active service.
The event took place after Mr Kuudamnuru officially handed over to Mr Isaac Crentsil as the new Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA.
Pulling out ceremonies are mostly performed by security services and other law enforcement agencies to mark the retirement of an officer from active service.
Dignitaries present at the ceremony included the Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Carlos Ahenkorah, the Commissioner-General of GRA, Mr Emmanuel Kofi Nti, the Controller–General of the Ghana Immigration Service, Mr Kwame Takyi.
Profile
A citation presented to Mr Kuudamnuru said the former customs boss entered the service in 1982 and had throughout his sterling career served in various capacities.
In May 2004, Mr Kuudamnuru was among a group of customs officers sent to Liberia to help reorganise and reform the customs service of that country after a gruelling civil war that destroyed the country.
He served as Commander of the Customs Tema Sector, Assistant Commissioner of Import and Export and became Commissioner in July 2015.
“In your service to mother Ghana as a revenue collector, you exhibited a high sense of humility, discipline, hard work, integrity and devotion to duty. As you bow out of public service today, the management and staff of the Customs Division of the GRA salute and commend you for a great job done,’’ the citation added.
Illustrious officer
The Minister of Finance, Mr Ofori-Atta described Mr Kuudamnuru as an illustrious officer “with exemplary brains and demeanor who has raised the profile of customs.’’
After receiving his citation and inspecting a guard of honour parade, Mr Kuudamnuru commended men and officers of the division, thanked his family and other well-wishers for their support.
“Thank you for the opportunity to service and thank you for the immense support that you gave me. God bless you all,’’ he said.
He, however, advised custom officials to do away with acts that had the potential of tarnishing the image of the division.