Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the member of parliament representing North Tongu, has refused to offer an apology to Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), for accusing him of leaving the nation while a contract he oversaw was being investigated.
In a social media post, Okudzeto Ablakwa claimed that despite the GRA and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract being audited continuously, President Akufo-Addo had helped the GRA chief escape the nation.
Ablakwa asked the president to give a reason for the boss’s absence.
However, GRA, in a statement, debunked the comment, saying its boss has not absconded but is on leave.
Dr. Owusu-Amoah’s leave was approved nearly a month ago, and according to GRA’s statement, he is anticipated to return to work on January 15.
GRA called Ablakwa’s remark a malicious misrepresentation of the truth and demanded an apology.
“Management of the GRA wishes to categorically state that, the Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, has not absconded as stated in the said publication.”
“The Commissioner-General is currently on a scheduled six (6) day leave which had been approved a month ago. Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah will resume work on Monday, 15th January 2024. While on leave, every engagement that is required of him or GRA in the Audit by KPMG is being diligently attended to either by himself or one of the commissioners.”
Okudzeto Ablakwa responded by saying he owes the GRA no apology because their argument does not refute the conclusions of his indisputable parliamentary oversight.
“Let me assure the GRA that I do not owe them an apology, and they surely are not going to get one. The GRA response abysmally fails to discredit the findings of my unimpeachable parliamentary oversight.”
He added that he will never pursuing his constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight.
He said, “Nothing will stop us from pursuing our constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight. Forward ever, backward never!”
I have become aware of the GRA statement.
Let me assure the GRA that I do not owe them an apology, and they surely are not going to get one.
The GRA response abysmally fails to discredit the findings of my unimpeachable parliamentary oversight.
Consistent with the…
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) January 11, 2024
