Bright Simons, the Vice President of IMANI Africa, has thrown his weight behind a remarkable legal challenge filed by a member of the opposition NPP, calling it a vital step toward restoring corporate sanity at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
In a pointed critique of successive administrations, Simons argued that the habitual practice of packing ambitious politicians on the GRA board under the guise of “private sector” representatives has compromised the integrity of the nation’s tax collector.
“A member of the NPP Opposition Party has filed a lawsuit to prevent the President from continuing to appoint members of parliament to the board of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
I think that the Commissioner General of the GRA too would prefer not to have two politicians to worry about. Because many politicians are constantly trying to horse-trade favours”
Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa
The lawsuit, filed by Lawyer Mustapha Tapha Tassah – an unsuccessful NPP parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections – seeks the immediate removal of Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina, and Hon. Laadi Ayamba, MP for Pusiga, from the GRA Board.
Simons contended that these appointments are a blatant violation of the GRA Act, 2009 (Act 791), which specifically reserves these seats for private sector gurus, not sitting lawmakers meant to exercise oversight in Parliament.
According to Simons, the law that defines “private sector representation,” for the GRA board is unambiguous: the board must include senior public servants in non-partisan roles complemented by four individuals from the private sector. However, the current board composition includes active politicians, a move Simons described as “baffling and befuddling.”
“Successive Presidents have found a way to park ambitious politicians who do not find enough favour to be appointed Ministers on the GRA Board as ‘private sector’ representatives.
“Given how strategic GRA conduct is to business in Ghana, are we seriously saying that we can’t find enough private sector gurus to appoint to that board to steer it towards sound policy?”
Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa
For Simons, the presence of politicians on the board creates a conflict of interest that hampers the Commissioner-General’s ability to drive sound tax policy. He suggested that the case is so “straightforward” that the Attorney General should simply advise the government to replace the MPs with genuine private citizens.
Strategic Pivot
Beyond the legalities, Simons viewed Lawyer Tassah’s writ as a strategic pivot for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in its quest to rebuild after the landslide defeat of 2024.
He contrasted Mr. Tassah’s “high-minded” governance standards with the “equalization” tactics used by other party members who spend their energies highlighting the ruling NDC’s hypocrisy rather than offering superior policy alternatives.
Simons argued that the majority of Ghanaian voters – particularly those struggling to afford three meals a day – are stubbornly unimpressed by arguments of hypocrisy by opposition parties. Instead, they are jittery about unfair access to favors and nepotism.
By pushing for institutional reforms that “tie the hands,” of future presidents (including those from their own party), Simons believes the NPP can finally convince the small folks that they are on their side.
“This case is all the more remarkable because the court’s ruling could end up tying the hands of future Presidents, including from his own party.
“I daresay that this is the kind of opposition prominent NPP members should prioritise if they want Ghanaians to warm to their party. Normalising conduct a lot of people got angry about by showing the new government doing similar things isn’t how to get voters starting to miss you”
Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa
The outcome of the Tassah writ will be a landmark for the Mahama administration, which has already faced criticism for its own board appointments. If the court rules in Tassah’s favor, it could trigger a nationwide “board purge” across several state-owned enterprises.
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