The Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Kwesi Sarpong, made his first public appearance amid protests by some discontented National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters over his appointment by President John Dramani Mahama.

Despite the controversy surrounding his selection for the top revenue mobilization role, Sarpong remains focused on optimizing limited resources to boost government revenue for national development.

He was the guest speaker at the African Tax Administration Forum held in Accra.

On Monday, January 27, a group of aggrieved youth, believed to be linked to the NDC, gathered at the headquarters of the GRA to protest the appointment of Kwesi Sarpong as Acting Commissioner-General.

President John Dramani Mahama announced Sarpong’s appointment on January 21, assigning him the critical role of overseeing Ghana’s tax collection and revenue mobilization efforts.

Mr. Sarpong, a highly accomplished accountant and auditor, previously served as a Senior Partner at KPMG, a globally respected auditing and consulting firm.

His appointment is seen as a strategic move to strengthen Ghana’s revenue systems, especially at a time when the government is under pressure to meet fiscal targets and stabilize the economy.

Despite his qualifications, some NDC members have opposed the appointment, citing concerns over Mr. Sarpong’s alleged ties to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). This has raised questions about his loyalty to the government’s revenue agenda and the potential influence of the ruling party over key institutions.

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