The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, Samuel Nartey Gorge has raised deep concerns about the continuous stay in office of the Ghana Revenue Authority Commissioner-General’s, Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah after exceeding his retirement age in office.
The Member of the Parliament’s Public Account Committee in a Facebook post on Tuesday, January 30 2024 revealed that the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah’s mandatory age to serve in public office ended in October 2021.
According to the Honorable Samuel Nartey George, Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah has acted as the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority for almost twenty-seven months despite reaching his retirement age as required by the Public Service Commission regulations.
The Ningo-Prampram lawmaker further disclosed in his statement that Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah has not received any contract by the government to remain in office as the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority as it is equally required by the Public Service Commission regulations.
“Yesterday, at the public hearings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, I 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 he attained 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”.
Samuel Nartey George
Furthermore, the Honorable Samuel Nartey George alleged that in addition to Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah untenable stay in office, he has also played a significant role in various functions of the Ghana Revenue Authority, including signing the controversial $100 million SML deal, with the approval and support of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The Honorable Samuel George questioned why Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah predecessor Mr. Kofi Nti, who even had 18 months left on his four-year contract when he was replaced with the termination of his contract attributed to him reaching the age of 60.
He questioned why the government failed to demonstrate consistency and fairness in the application of the rules to Reverend Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah like it did to his predecessor, Mr Kofi Nti.
Sam George Chastises Ken Ofori Atta Over GRA Boss Continuous Stay In office
Moreover, the Honorable Samuel Nartey George chastised the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta of allowing Reverend Dr. Amishaddai to remain in office for an additional twenty-seven months without a valid contract despite his initial pledge to Parliament that President Akufo-Addo had directed the cessation of contract extensions beyond the age of 60, unless the individual possessed a unique and indispensable skill.
The Honorable Samuel Nartey George strongly asserted that Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai does not have any such unique skills for which reason he must be allowed to remain in office as the Commisioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority for almost twenty-seven months.
The Member of Parliament’s Public Account Committee thus argued that Reverend Dr. Amishaddai should not continue to stay in office even for a day and also called for a forensic audit of the Commissioner-General’s actions over the past 27 months to assess potential damage to the Ghanaian taxpayers.
The Honorable Samuel Nartey George concluded his statement by stressing that he would pursue every effort to get to the conclusion of the matter involving the tenure of Reverend Dr. Amishaddai who is the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority.
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