The appointment of Kwame Owusu is a sign of corruption – NDC

General News on Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Source: citinewsroom.com

2019-07-17

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has declared President Nana Akufo-Addo's appointment of Ghana Maritime Authority's former director general, Kwame Owusu, as chairman of the board of the Ghana Revenue Authority. (GRA) was a sign of corruption.

Owusu's tenure as chairman of the Ghana Maritime Authority will be remembered for his wastefulness charges. The NDC, in a statement, said his new appointment was another opportunity for him to "continue to use his public funds."

We believe that the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu to the chairmanship of the GRA testifies to the fact that President Akufo-Addo has endorsed corruption and developed an unlimited capacity to take charge of and promote the corrupt activities of his representatives. . .

The NDC said it is worried about the new highs that "corruption has taken" and said it was "a total betrayal of Ghanaians' trust" on the part President Akufo-Addo.

"We dare to say that, given the current positions of our president, the war on corruption is far from won. But, as a country, we can not afford to mitigate this threat for a moment, "said the opposition party.

Mr. Kwame Owusu resigned from his post as Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority in February 2019 after being accused of embezzlement.

But government officials said the resignation was due to the fact that Mr. Owusu was 65 years old and was retiring.

He oversaw dubious spending by the authority, including 1 million GHc for the renovation of his official residence.

He had also planned 10,000 GHc to organize a breakfast meeting for 17 people in a hotel he owned, which raised concerns of conflict of interest.

The government subsequently opened an investigation, but the findings of this investigation were not made public.

Find below the complete declaration

APPOINTMENT OF MR. KWAME OWUSU, PRESIDENT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL OF THE AKUFO-ADDO GROUP AT THE HEART OF THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) joins several well-meaning Ghanaians to express our disbelief and total disbelief at the decision of President Akufo-Addo to appoint Kwame Owusu as Chair of the Ghana Revenue Board. Authority (GRA).

This appointment comes just nine (9) months after Mr. Owusu was accused of embezzlement as Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority.

It will be remembered how Mr. Kwame Owusu made the headlines for the wrong reasons to lead and defend the dubious and unnecessary expenses of Ghana's maritime authority, including spending an exorbitant amount of 135,000 GH for staff from his own hotel. GH10 000 on a buffet for 17 people, 1 million GHS to renovate his official two-bedroom apartment and install up to eleven (11) air conditioners for his comfort, among others.

This unnecessary exaggeration on the part of a man who was supposed to be an official spurred many languages ​​at the time, which led the government to open an unsubstantiated investigation into the said allegations of financial and financial malpractice. eventually led to the resignation of Mr. Kwame Owusu. Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority in February this year.

As we speak, Ghanaians are unaware of the outcome of alleged investigations into the conduct of Mr. Kwame Owusu during his tenure at the Ghana Maritime Authority. Instead, Nana Akufo-Addo rewarded her with another opportunity, this time with the country's revenue department, to continue abusing the public.

We believe that the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu to the chairmanship of the GRA testifies to the fact that President Akufo-Addo has endorsed corruption and developed an unlimited capacity to take charge of and promote the corrupt activities of his representatives. . .

This president has managed to become a clearing agent for corruption within his government, as he is constantly laundering and defending his corrupt attorneys.

As we speak, no one has been found guilty and punished for the Australian visa fraud scandal, which has brought shame and shame to the nation. Quite typical of President Akufo-Addo, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Pious Hadzide, who oversaw the Australian Commonwealth Games Committee, was acquitted of all wrongdoing and transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Information as Deputy Minister.

In addition, Mr. Charles Bissiw remains a member of the presidential staff while he was captured in the documentary Galamsey Fraud of Ace's investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, who had collected pots of -vin and promoted illegal mining.

Since that day, Gifty Klenam, former CEO of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, and his deputy, Eric Twum, have not paid back funds illegally levied from state funds. . Eric Twum has been reappointed as government spokesman in the Ministry of Information.

Again, no one has been or is being prosecuted against the BOST contaminated fuel saga, in which the state has not yet recovered the proceeds of the illegal sale of 5 million liters of contaminated fuel to unregistered and unlicensed companies.

These are just a few of the many cases of Akufo-Addo government corruption that went unpunished.

At the Democratic National Congress, we, the majority of Ghanaians, are worried about the unprecedented highs of corruption under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo. We find that his tolerance for corruption, which he claimed to hate in 2016, was a complete betrayal of Ghanaians' trust.

The growing corruption under President Akufo-Addo is a reality that goes beyond mere perception. Until recently, the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD) has declared that Ghana lost 9.6 billion GHS due to corruption under the supervision of Akufo-Addo.

This scary fact must be a source of concern for all well-meaning Ghanaians.

We dare to say that, given the current position of our president, the war on corruption is far from won. But as a country, we can not afford to mitigate the effects of this threat for a moment. We therefore ask everyone to remain resolute and continue to shed light on the corrupt Akufo-Addo government. We also call for the immediate removal of the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu as Chair of the Board of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Sign. Comrade Johnson Asiedu Nketiah (Corporate Secretary)