Monday's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) session took an unexpected turn into disarray when a seemingly straightforward question led to a 10-minute confusion. Ningo-Prampram legislator, Sam George, posed a query about the year Ghana Revenue Authority's (GRA) Commissioner-General, Rev Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, turned 60.
The committee meeting witnessed a sharp division when Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei-Asare, argued that the question was too personal. Committee Chairman, James Klutse Avedzi, intervened, emphasizing that as a public officer, such information should be disclosed.
Amid tension, Rev Dr Owusu-Amoah eventually revealed he turned 62 in October 2023. The sitting experienced further disruption due to a technical issue with the public address system, leading to a 45-minute adjournment.
After the break, Rev Dr Owusu-Amoah clarified that a letter was sent to the board for him to continue working until issues were sorted with the Ministry of Finance. Sam George later asserted the Commissioner's prolonged stay was unconstitutional.
Last year, political scientist Prof Ransford Gyampo highlighted concerns about unjustifiable contract extensions at GRA, citing the Commissioner-General's extension beyond his post-retirement contract, which ended in 2021.
These events have sparked tension and raised questions about adherence to government policies on post-retirement contracts. Sam George threatened to raise the issue in Parliament if corrective action isn't taken.
