Declare GRA boss persona non grata – Sam George to Parliament

The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, has urged Parliament to declare the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, persona non grata, alleging that the official has been working illegally since October 2021.

The call came during a recent session of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) where Sam George raised concerns about the age of the GRA Commissioner-General.

According to the MP, Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah has not had any contractual agreement with the government since reaching retirement age in October 2021, making his continued presence in the position unlawful.

In an exclusive interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News, Sam George announced his intention to formally communicate his concerns to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the finance committee not to entertain Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah in the house anymore.

“I know for a fact that the GRA Commissioner-General, since turning 60 years old in October 2021, has not had a contract. This is not the first time I’ve raised this matter directly with the Commissioner-General, drawing his attention to the fact that he’s engaged in illegality. He has persisted, and it’s been two years and three months since he turned 60. He has no legal basis to be there.”

“I’m writing officially to the President [Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo], and we will demand a response from him. I will be raising this with the Speaker [Alban Bagbin] as well when Parliament reconvenes, drawing the attention of the Speaker and the finance committee to the fact that Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah must be declared persona non grata before PAC. We should not entertain someone who has no legal basis. If the government will not do the right thing, Parliament should not entertain GRA again in Parliament.”

He accused the GRA Commissioner-General of engaging in ‘dubious and unscrupulous’ contracts, questioning why he has remained in post after reaching retirement age.

“He [GRA boss] has engaged in a number of dubious and unscrupulous contracts. The whole country knows about the $100 SML contract. He has been used to carry out all the legalities for Ken Ofori-Atta [Finance Minister]. Why have they kept Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah in the post, if not that he’s facilitating corruption and blatant stealing at GRA? This must be a cause of worry for all of us,” he claimed.