The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, is calling on Parliament to declare the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, persona non grata.
He argues that since October 2021, the GRA boss has not had any contract with the government after reaching retirement age, suggesting that he is working illegally.
At the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting earlier this week, Sam George inquired about the age of the GRA Commissioner-General.
Yesterday, at the public hearings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, Hon.Dzata asked a very simple Public Interest Question of the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah.
“My very simple question was which year did he attain the age of 60. Boom! Drama began. My Colleagues on the NPP side got upset with my question and a 90 minute stand off ensued including a mysterious ‘fault’ with the PA system .
After the 90 minute break, I manage to get a response from him and I am allowed only one follow up question by the Chairman. That question was if the Commissioner-General had a valid contract to remain at post. He answered that for the past twenty seven (27) months, he has occupied the position without a contract.
Now for those wondering why I asked these questions, here are the issues;
- Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai turned 60 years in October 2021, twenty seven (27) months ago.
- Per the Public Service Commission of Ghana regulations, anyone above the age of 60 can be maintained with a 1/2-year contract with the possibility of an extension of another year.
- Since October 2021, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai has been at post and carried out functions as the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority without a contract. He has signed contracts like the dubious $100 million SML sweetheart deal with the approval and support of Ken Ofori-Atta.
- Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai replaced Mr. Kofi Nti as Commissioner-General when the later still had 18 months of his four (4) year contract outstanding. The reason his contract was terminated was that he had turned 60 years.
- The question we need answers to is why Ken Ofori-Atta has kept his darling Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai at post for another twenty seven (27) months without a contract?
- The same Ken Ofori-Atta told Parliament that President Akufo-Addo had given instructions that contract extensions beyond the age of 60 would cease except in exceptional cases where the skill of the individual in question is unique and not readily available. What skill does Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai have that is unique and for which reason the laws of the country have been broken?
- Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai cannot and should not be allowed to continue his stay in office even one day longer. There must be a forensic audit of his actions in the past 27 months to ascertain what damage his illegal stay has caused the tax payer.
