The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has refuted allegations that Commissioner-General Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah has absconded from the country.
North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on Wednesday, claimed that Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah has been aided to flee the country following the announcement of an audit into Authority’s revenue assurance contract with Strategic Mobilization Ltd (SML).
According to him, he absconded with his wife and children using his ordinary passport to São Tomé and Príncipe with the help of President Akufo-Addo and is never returning.
But in a statement on January 11, the GRA indicated that Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah is currently on a pre-approved six-day leave, which was scheduled a month ago.
The GRA clarified that the Commissioner-General will resume duties on Monday, January 15, 2024. During his absence, the GRA assured that all necessary engagements related to the KPMG audit are being diligently addressed by either Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah himself or one of the commissioners.
“Management of the GRA wishes to categorically state that, the Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has not absconded as stated in the said publication.”
“The Commissioner-General is currently on a scheduled six (6) day leave which had been approved a month ago. Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah will resume work on Monday, 15th January 2024. While on leave, every engagement that is required of him or GRA in the Audit by KPMG is being diligently attended to either by himself or one of the commissioners.”
Background
President Akufo-Addo on January 2 ordered the immediate suspension of the revenue assurance contract signed between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML).
The president has also directed an audit firm, KPMG, to investigate the services SML renders to the GRA and submit its report in two weeks.
According to a statement signed by the communication’s director at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, President Akufo-Addo “also directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority to suspend the performance contract pending the submission of the audit report, including any payments presently envisaged under its terms.”
KPMG has also been directed to “assess the appropriateness of the contract methodology, verifying compliance with legal standards and industry practices in the procurement process for the selection of SML.”
The president also tasked KPMG to, among others “evaluate the value benefit that SML has so far offered to the GRA through this engagement.”
Akufo-Addo's intervention comes after, various organisations, including Ghana's legislature, have questioned the contract, the GRA awarded to SML in 2019 to undertake revenue assurances services, claiming that it was riddled with flaws in its execution.
The agreement between the two entities was to boost revenue assurances in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the value chain for minerals and metals resources.