GRA Boss’s Age Sparks Controversy at PAC Meeting

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Monday's Public Accounts Committee meeting took an unexpected turn when what seemed like a straightforward query became a focal point of contention.

At the session, the Ningo-Prampram minister, Sam George, posed a seemingly innocuous question, seeking to ascertain the year in which the Ghana Revenue Authority's (GRA) Commissioner-General, Rev Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, turned 60. However, a committee member initially insinuated that age-related inquiries were a personal matter, leading to a 10-minute debacle over the birth year.

Related To This: GRA/SML Deal: KPMG's Audit Is Deception, Akufo-Addo Has Flown GRA Boss Out Of The Country - Ablakwa

Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, argued that the matter of age was personal, but Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, swiftly rejected this notion, asserting that as a public official, the Commissioner-General was not shielded from disclosing such information.

The intensified debate persisted for some time, during which the Committee Chairman intervened multiple times to ensure Dr. Amishaddai addressed the seemingly innocuous question. The exchange became increasingly tense, with the Chairman firmly reminding all present that public officers are subject to disclosure laws.

After an unexpected 45-minute adjournment due to a technical issue, the GRA boss eventually revealed that he turned 62 in October 2023 and addressed his tenure, indicating that a letter was submitted to the board to continue working until matters were settled with the Ministry of Finance and the appointing authority.

Following the session, Sam George expressed concerns, deeming the Commissioner's extended stay as unconstitutional. He emphasized his intention to pursue the matter in Parliament if necessary.

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