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General News of Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Source: citinewsroom.com
2019-07-16
Director for advocacy and political engagement of CDD-Ghana, Dr. Kojo Asante
Dr. Kojo Asante, Director of Advocacy and Policy at the Center for Democratic Development (Ghana CDD), said the appointment of the former Director General of the Maritime Authority, Kwame Owusu, to the Chair of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) board of directors, was based on poor judgment.
The former director general of the maritime authority reportedly renovated his official residence for a cost of one million cedis and endowed it with eleven air conditioners.
He was also accused of having spent more than 10,000 GHC to organize a luncheon meeting for 17 people. an allegation that is the subject of an investigation.
This nomination has provoked negative reactions from groups such as the Ghana Integrity Initiative as well as the general public.
Speaking at the Citi Breakfast Show, Mr. Asante said that the appointment of Kwame Owusu went against the government's goal of fighting corruption.
"We hear that this person has been rewarded with the presidency of the board of directors of an even more serious institution, namely the Ghana Tax Authority. It's a government that is trying to generate revenue. "
"The last person you want to entrust a tax administration is someone who is wasting public resources. How to persuade citizens to pay their taxes with this kind of symbolism, so I think it is a very bad judgment for whoever has appointed this person. I really think this decision should be overturned because it sends us all a very bad message about the anti-corruption agenda that the government is trying to pursue. "
The Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has also asked President Nana Akufo-Addo to immediately revoke the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu.
According to the civil society group, the appointment of the former head of the maritime authority is in bad taste given the accusations of embezzlement against him and the ensuing public outcry with regard to the fight against corruption.
"GII calls on the President to revoke the appointment of Mr. Kwame Owusu following the deep public outcry over the ongoing investigations into allegations of abuse of power and conflict of interest involving Mr. Owusu. This appointment caused disappointment among the general public, especially because of the events that preceded his release from his previous position. The raging debates focus on Mr. Owusu's integrity and its impact on the public's perception of the new institution to which he has been appointed, "said the initiative in a statement.
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