The Caucus of Democratic Governance-Ghana (CDG-GH), a civil society group and policy think tank has called on President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo to withdraw the appointment of Kwame Owusu, as Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

In their recent press release signed by the Chief convener, Dr E.K.Hayford, the group expressed their utmost dissatisfaction and utter disappointment at how the president appointed a man with a record of irresponsibly misapplying the taxpayers' money and later sort to justify what he did by churning out subsequent renditions that ended up in serious public flare-ups.

“Mr. Kwame Owusu was appointed on April 3rd, 2017 as Managing Director of Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA). As Managing Director, Mr. Kwame Owusu abused his office by involving himself in some corruption cases. He was alleged to have used the taxpayers money wrongly to renovate his two-bedroom house, even though he was using a government bungalow."

"He is also alleged to have bought eleven air conditioners for that same house. As if that was not enough, he used 135,000.00 GHC of the taxpayers' money to pay for lunch for five people. During the massive public outcry, Mr. Kwame Owusu who was 67 years resigned”, the statement indicated.

“With these corruption issues hanging around his neck, it becomes difficult to understand why Mr. Kwame Owusu can be appointed as Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) by the President when reports of investigations carried out have been shelved. Besides, GRA is the nerve controlling our National economy, and so its Board Chairman should be a person with a clean record, morally sound with a strong desire for accountability”, the statement opined.

The group bemoaned, that the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu to such a sensitive and all-important sector of our country is not consistent with the president’s much-touted promise to lead a corruption-free regime.

They stressed, that Mr. Kwame Owusu has lost his moral courage and moral rights to be able to reprimand persons who may engage in acts of corruption under his watch as the board chairman of Ghana Revenue Authority.

“The present drastic reduction in revenue collection targets, may or may not be due to his appointment. It is, however, important to note, that his record of alleged corruption would negatively affect the morals of the Customs Officers and other revenue collectors. He has already lost the moral mandate to correct and rectify”, the statement emphasized.

Below is the full statement;

CAUCUS FOR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE-GHANA

NANA ADDO MAKES CORRUPT KWAME OWUSU GHANA REVENUE AUTHORITY BOARD CHAIRMAN

The Caucus for Democratic Governance-Ghana, (CDG-GH) has registered with shock and concern, the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu as Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). We join Civil Societies and all taxpayers in calling for the immediate termination of the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu.

Mr. Kwame Owusu was appointed on April 3rd, 2017 as Managing Director of Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA). As Managing Director, Mr. Kwame Owusu abused his office by involving himself in some corruption cases. He was alleged to have used the taxpayers money wrongly to renovate his two-bedroom house, even though he was using a government bungalow.

He is also alleged to have bought eleven air conditioners for that same house. As if that was not enough, he used 135,000.00 GHC of the taxpayers' money to pay for lunch for five people. During the massive public outcry, Mr. Kwame Owusu who was 67 years resigned.

With these corruption issues hanging around his neck, it becomes difficult to understand why Mr Kwame Owusu can be appointed as Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) by the President when reports of investigations carried out have been shelved.

Besides GRA is the nerve centre controlling our National economy, and so its Board Chairman should be a person with clean record, morally sound with strong desire for accountability.

The present drastic reduction in revenue collection targets, may or may not be due to his appointment; it is, however, important to note that his record of alleged corruption would negatively affect the morals of the Customs Officers and other revenue collectors. He has already lost the moral mandate to correct and rectify.

The CDG-GH is of the opinion that the economy with its over 200 billion National debt is taking a dangerous curve, and the President and his economic team must sit up. Their inability to restructure the taxation and revenue system, their inability to invest in productivity instead of consumption, their inability to reduce imports and increase exports are all weighing down and bringing the economy on its knees. The return to IMF is inevitable.

Signed!

Dr. E.K. Hayfod
Chief Convener CDG-GH