The Comoros Ministry of Finance has installed a new team at the Mutsamudu Port Customs Centre, with changes affecting several key positions, including the head of the centre, brigade chief, commercial operations chief, and receiver. A handover ceremony was held on Monday morning at the centre's premises, following several appointments and transfers decided by the Ministry of Finance and the General Directorate of Customs. The changes aim to bring new perspectives and skills to the team.
The new team includes six newly appointed inspector-verifiers, five of whom are women, appointed by the Director-General of Customs, Djaanfar Salim Allaoui. According to Allaoui, the rotation of agents allows officials to access new responsibilities and enhance their careers. He emphasized that the changes will enable agents to discover new functions and progress in their careers, which is particularly important in a revenue administration like customs.
Allaoui highlighted the importance of rotation in a revenue administration, stating that it allows personnel to learn and acquire experience. He noted that staying in the same role for two or three years can be stagnating and lead to bad habits. The changes are expected to bring a fresh perspective to the team and enable them to work more efficiently.
The Director-General of Customs has called on the new officials to demonstrate rigour and dedication to the institution and the country. He emphasized that the newly appointed officials will have to sign performance contracts, which will outline specific objectives to be achieved. This move aims to ensure that the new team is held accountable for their performance.
Said Ali Affane Yahaya, the new head of commercial operations, has pledged to work towards achieving the set objectives. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with other stakeholders, including customs officers, transit operators, and traders. Yahaya noted that the customs administration plays a critical role in collecting revenue for the state, accounting for at least 70% of the country's budget.
Farzat Mohamed Bacar, a newly appointed inspector-verifier, has stressed the need for the new team to respect the orientations of the hierarchy. She called for collaboration among team members and emphasized the importance of putting in place a culture of rigour. Bacar expressed gratitude to the General Directorate for its vision and pledged to work in accordance with the directives given by the Ministry and the General Directorate.
The changes at the Mutsamudu Port Customs Centre are part of a broader effort to reorganize the customs administration in Comoros. The Director-General of Customs has announced that other ports, including Mwali, will also be affected by these changes. The reorganization aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the customs administration, which plays a critical role in the country's revenue collection.
Key points
- The Comoros Ministry of Finance has installed a new team at the Mutsamudu Port Customs Centre, with changes affecting several key positions.
- The new team includes six newly appointed inspector-verifiers, five of whom are women.
- The changes aim to bring new perspectives and skills to the team, and to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the customs administration.
