Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah
The purported imminent retirement of the Commissioner-General of Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has reportedly heightened the lobbying for the top position.
A source has told DAILY GUIDE that many tax experts with leanings to the New Patriotic Party (NPP), including those from the academia, have all been frequenting the corridors of power with the hope of being named the next GRA boss.
Significantly, Rev. Owusu-Amoah who is believed to be retiring by October, after taking over from Kofi Nti, about two years ago, is allegedly requesting for an extension to remain at post and his move could dash the hopes of all those wanting to unseat him.
The source said once Mr. Kofi Nti was made to leave his position when he was due for retirement, it would be an injustice to him if the current boss is retained, saying, “Questions are being asked as to why his predecessor Kofi Nti who appeared to have engineered laudable policies to generate revenue for the country was made to go a year and half to his mandatory retirement. This smacks of favouritism and we do not think the President as we know him, will endorse any illegalities and be swayed by the incumbent’s last minute maneuverings.
“He is retiring in October. His predecessor Kofi Nti was left with a year and half to end his term but they sent him away. Why is the current one being made to stay?
“We have already said that his tax policies and certain initiatives of the GRA, particularly at the ports, almost caused the NPP to be defeated in the 2020 general election. It was so unbelievable that this was made to pass without concern even under a Covid economy with its attendant repercussions on the election. Any wonder the NPP recorded the outcome they had? We can’t let this sort of things to persist and we think there should be a new leader at GRA.
“The GRA has been unable to maximise revenue generation and have been doing the same old things expecting new results. It will not be prudent politically for the President and the NPP to continue to keep the GRA top guru and a number of them there. We can’t afford to break the eight in 2024 with this kind of leadership in place.”