CDD kicks against appointment of Kwame Owusu as GRA Board Chairman

The Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD-Ghana) has kicked against the appointment of Kwame Owusu, former Boss of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) as Board Chairman for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Director for Advocacy and Policy Engagement at CDD-Ghana, Dr. Kojo Asante, said the appointment of the former Managing Director for the GMA was based on poor judgement on the part of the president.

Speaking on Accra based radio station, Citi FM, Dr. Asante said “The appointment of Kwame Owusu defeats government’s purpose of fighting corruption.”

According to him, the last person the government would want to engage in revenue mobilization for the state should not be one who has been accused of misappropriating state funds.

“The last person that you want to put in charge of a revenue authority is a person who is alleged to be wasting public resources. How do you persuade citizens to pay their tax with that kind of symbolism,” Dr. Asante quizzed.

“So I think it is just a very poor judgement for whoever nominated this person. I really think that decision should be rescinded because it sends a really bad message to all of us about the anti-corruption agenda that government is trying to pursue,” he said.

The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has also asked President Nana Akufo-Addo to without delay revoke the appointment of Kwame Owusu as GRA Board Chair.

According to the GII, the appointment of the ex-Maritime Authority boss is in bad taste given the accusations of financial misappropriation levelled against him and the subsequent public outcry as the fight against corruption is concerned.

BACKGROUND

Kwame Owusu was reported to have renovated his official residence at a cost of GHS 1 million and furnishing it with eleven air conditioners.

He was also accused of spending over GHS 10,000 to host a lunch meeting for 17 people in his hotel.

He subsequently resigned after those allegations.

Some legislators in Ghana’s parliament have criticized the appointment saying, it is an indictment on the anti-corruption agenda of the Akufo-Addo led government as Kwame Owusu is under investigations over alleged misappropriation of funds at the Ghana Maritime Authority.