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Mr Thierno Diallo the Country Director of Philip Morris International, a Switzerland based cigarette manufacturing company has commended the government of Ghana for its commitment to fight illicit cigarette in the country.
Mr Diallo made the above comment when a memorandum of understanding was signed between Philip Morris International and Custom Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) in Accra.
He said the company is delighted about the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed to fight illicit trade in cigarette in partnership with CEPS. The MOU would help the two organisations to share information on suspected counterfeit shipments, technical trainings and external communication on counterfeit issues.
Earlier, officials of Custom Excise and Preventive Service destroyed more than 100 million counterfeit cigarette at Kpong near Tema in the Greater Accra Region. The counterfeit cigarettes, bearing Philip Morris International trademarks, were seized in 12 shipping containers in transit at the port of Tema in the second half of 2005.
"I would like to thank the authorities here in Ghana on this milestone destruction of illegal cigarette. This action sends a strong message about Ghana's commitment to address this serious issue. Destruction of seized cigarette is the only way to ensure that these inferior quality product do not find their way back to the legitimate supply chain and into the possession of unsuspecting smokers", Mr Diallo said.
Mr E. N. Doku Commissioner of CEPS who signed the memo on behalf of the commission thanked Philip Morris International for the confidence it has expressed in them. "Our hearts are gladdened by the training facilities Philip Morris has offered to put at our disposal in the MOU."
He said the success of the MOU as a working tool and as a guiding principle cannot be achieved without the requisite skills of our officers assigned duties at our various ports and stati
