Kofi Nti – GRA Boss
Lawyer for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which is one of the implementing agencies for the controversial $89 million Kelni-GVG contract has prayed an Accra High Court for more time.
According to the lawyer, given that the applicants have filed supplementary issues to the affidavit in support, he will need some time to respond and also file additional issues to his affidavit in opposition.
The issue the lawyer is seeking to add is in connection with an interlocutory injunction application in which the applicants were seeking the court to place an injunction on the execution of the contract saying the project when implemented will infringe on the privacy of Ghanaians.
When the case was called yesterday, the presiding judge asked lawyers for the National Communications Authority (NCA), GRA, and the telecommunication companies whether they would want to file any other issues.
Although the other lawyers said no, lawyer for the GRA prayed the court to allow him to do so.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to July 10, 2018, for hearing.
The contract has become a subject of controversy between policy think-tank IMANI Africa and the ministry with the former arguing it was needless and expensive.
The ministry argues that it is meant for the design and implementation of a common platform for traffic monitoring, revenue assurance and mobile money monitoring.
But the applicants believe that the intended implementation of the common platform constitutes a real threat to the enjoyment of their fundamental human right to privacy, adding that the implementation of the common platform and its attendant breach of the applicant’s right to privacy will be irreparable.
Injunction
Meanwhile, an Appeal Court has upheld the decision of an Accra High Court for an order of interlocutory injunction on the implementation of the controversial $89 million Kelni-GVG contract by the National communications Authority (NCA).
This was after the court presided over by Justice A.K. Acquaye with Justices Tanko Amadu and Barbara Ackah-Yensu unanimously dismissed an application for stay of execution filed by the NCA and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Gibril Abdul Razak& Ruth Ofori