The North Tongu Member of Parliament and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa and the immediate past Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Rev. Dr. Amishadai Owusu-Amoah of mismanagement.
In a scathing criticism of the leadership of the two personalities, the Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called for accountability and justice regarding their respective stewardship.
“Ghanaians expect GRA boss Rev. Dr Amishadai Owusu-Amoah to be prosecuted instead of a mere cosy send-off so he can return to his favourite hide-out in São Tomé and Príncipe. Also, why is his 63-year-old counterpart at VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa still in post as CEO?”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
He bemoaned over what he described as a culture of impunity and negligence exhibited by the officials, particularly in light of recent controversies surrounding their leadership.
The North Tongu lawmaker specifically accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa of mishandling the Akosombo dam spillage which resulted in a flood disaster in September last year.
He pointed out the lack of progress in providing adequate resettlement for affected communities and compensating victims, attributing it to Mr Antwi-Darkwa’s failures.
Furthermore, the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority of supervising the organization and conduct of a lavish end-of-year party amidst the disaster during last December.
He also expressed deep concerns over the continued stay in office of Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa as the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority despite supervising what he described as “the biggest man-made disaster” in the history of the country.
The Honorable Ablakwa also accused Mr Antwi-Darkwa of failing to demonstrate leadership to address the plight of the victims and its affected communities following the flood occasioned by the spillage of the dams.
Ageing Public Officers
Moreover, the former Deputy Minister of Education under the erstwhile Mahama’s administration, Honorable Ablakwa condemnation extended to the broader issue of entrenched leadership within Ghana’s public sector, particularly among ageing officials who cling to power despite what he described as their apparent ineffectiveness.
He advocated for a generational shift in leadership, urging the removal of non-performing individuals to pave the way for capable young leaders who can propel the country forward.
Mr Ablakwa thus emphasized that public leaders must be held to a higher standard of responsibility, with a deep-seated commitment to serving the interests of the people.
Anything short of this, he asserted undermines the rights of citizens and erodes public trust in the institutions meant to uphold their welfare.
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has dissolved the Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The former Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority who was also a member of the board, Rev Dr Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah has been replaced by Julie Essiam.
Madam Essiam, until her new appointment, was the Commissioner responsible for the Support Services Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
