President Mahama Sued Over Appointment of New GRA Boss

Jephthah Nana Adjei Osei - Mensah
By
President Mahama Sued Over Appointment of New GRA Boss
H.E John Dramani
Written By : Priscilla Boakye
Emmanuella Sarfowaah has initiated legal action against Ghana's President, John Dramani Mahama, challenging the appointment of Anthony Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The lawsuit was officially lodged through the Attorney General, Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, and lists President Mahama, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, and the GRA itself as defendants. This legal battle centers around the contentious appointment made on January 21, 2025, following the unexpected resignation of the previous Commissioner-General, Julie Essiam, on January 20, 2025.


Sarfowaah's lawsuit raises significant questions about the legality and ethicality of Sarpong's appointment. She contends that there exists a direct conflict of interest because Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, prior to his appointment, was a Senior Partner at KPMG, a major auditing and consulting firm with extensive engagements in Ghana's financial sector. Sarfowaah argues that Sarpong's continued affiliation with KPMG could potentially compromise the integrity of the GRA, which is responsible for tax collection and ensuring fiscal compliance across the nation.


Another critical point of Sarfowaah's legal challenge is the procedural irregularity she claims in the appointment process. She asserts that at the time of Sarpong's appointment, the GRA did not have a functioning Governing Council. According to Ghana's constitution and the Ghana Revenue Authority Act, 2009 (Act 791), the President is supposed to appoint the Commissioner-General after receiving advice from the GRA's Governing Council, in consultation with the Public Services Commission. Without this council in place, Sarfowaah argues, the appointment is not only procedurally flawed but also in violation of the legal framework governing public office appointments.


In her legal filings, Sarfowaah is seeking several judicial remedies. She is demanding that the court declare the appointment of Sarpong as unlawful and subsequently revoke it. She also requests a permanent injunction to prevent Sarpong from serving as the Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA. Additionally, she seeks to bar President Mahama and any future GRA Governing Council from appointing Sarpong to this position or any similar role within the authority.


The legal documents also outline that Sarfowaah is challenging not just the individual's suitability but the very process by which the appointment was made, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to constitutional norms in governmental appointments.


The lawsuit has sparked a broader conversation about governance, accountability, and the ethical considerations in appointing public officials in Ghana. It has also drawn attention to the mechanisms of checks and balances within the country's political system, with many watching closely to see how this case might influence future appointments and the interpretation of legal requirements for public office.





The defendants have been instructed by the court to file their defense within eight days of receiving the lawsuit, setting the stage for what could be a landmark case on public appointments and conflicts of interest in Ghana. The outcome could have significant implications for how appointments are made, the role of advisory bodies in such processes, and the broader governance practices in the country.

Comments

MORE FROM
culture

More From 3Music News

New Trailer Drops for Joseph Kosinski’s F1 Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | sports | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 12th, 2025

New Trailer Drops for Joseph Kosinski’s F1 Starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris

The highly anticipated trailer for Joseph Kosinski’s upcoming racing drama F1 has officially been released, giving fans a thrilling first look at the high-octane film starring Brad Pitt and Damson Idris

The final season for BIG MOUTH premieres in 2 weeks
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 12th, 2025

The final season for BIG MOUTH premieres in 2 weeks

Netflix’s acclaimed animated series Big Mouth is set to premiere its eighth and final season on May 23rd, 2025.

The Conjuring: Last Rites’ to Conclude Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Cinematic Saga on September 5
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 12th, 2025

The Conjuring: Last Rites’ to Conclude Ed and Lorraine Warren’s Cinematic Saga on September 5

The Conjuring Universe is set to reach its climactic conclusion with The Conjuring: Last Rites, premiering in theaters on September 5th, 2025

Netflix’s FOREVER Reimagines Judy Blume’s Classic for a New Generation
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 12th, 2025

Netflix’s FOREVER Reimagines Judy Blume’s Classic for a New Generation

Netflix’s latest teen drama, FOREVER, premiered on May 8th, 2025, offering a contemporary adaptation of Judy Blume’s groundbreaking 1975 novel

Nana Akua Addo Stuns At AMVCA 2025 With Futuristic Gown
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 12th, 2025

Nana Akua Addo Stuns At AMVCA 2025 With Futuristic Gown

Ghanaian actress and fashion icon Nana Akua Addo once again stole the spotlight at the 2025 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), held on Saturday, May 10th, in Lagos, Nigeria

White Smoke Rises: Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as New Pope
fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

White Smoke Rises: Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as New Pope

A new chapter has begun for the Roman Catholic Church as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., has been elected as the 267th pope, taking the name Pope Leo XIV

Mavin Records Celebrates 13 Years of Afrobeats Excellence
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Mavin Records Celebrates 13 Years of Afrobeats Excellence

On May 8th, 2025, Mavin Records, the Nigerian music powerhouse founded by Don Jazzy, commemorated its 13th anniversary, marking over a decade of shaping the Afrobeats genre and propelling African music onto the global stage

Clinton Joshua: Nollywood’s Rising Star Making Waves on Screen and Online
entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Clinton Joshua: Nollywood’s Rising Star Making Waves on Screen and Online

Clinton Joshua Ezewele, born on June 6th, 1998, in Edo State, Nigeria, is rapidly becoming one of Nollywood’s most promising young actors

Tiwa Savage Lights Up Usher’s O2 Arena Show with Surprise Performance
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Tiwa Savage Lights Up Usher’s O2 Arena Show with Surprise Performance

Afrobeats superstar Tiwa Savage delivered a show-stopping surprise at Usher’s Past Present Future tour stop at London’s O2 Arena, thrilling thousands of fans with a powerful guest performance that underscored her global influence

Eve Electrifies Fans with Surprise Appearance During Usher’s Past Present Future Tour
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Eve Electrifies Fans with Surprise Appearance During Usher’s Past Present Future Tour

Fans attending Usher’s Past Present Future tour were treated to an electrifying surprise when hip-hop icon Eve joined him on stage, igniting the crowd with nostalgia and energy

Cheryl Cole Named Administrator of Late Liam Payne’s $32.2M Estate
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Cheryl Cole Named Administrator of Late Liam Payne’s $32.2M Estate

Cheryl Cole has been appointed as a temporary administrator of Liam Payne’s estate following the singer’s death in October 2024, according to documents obtained by Entertainment Tonight. The estate is estimated to be worth $32.2 million

Usher Concludes O2 Arena Residency with Spectacular Finale
music | entertainment | fashion & lifestyle | culture | BY Aimee Cherry Quartey | May 8th, 2025

Usher Concludes O2 Arena Residency with Spectacular Finale

Usher brought his Past Present Future tour to a dazzling close at London’s O2 Arena, delivering a performance that celebrated his three-decade career and left fans in awe

More Similar Videos

Hammer Shares Music Production Experiences and Artiste Relationships
culture | 3Music TV | April 4th, 2024

Hammer Shares Music Production Experiences and Artiste Relationships