A private citizen, Emmanuella Sarfowaah, has filed a suit against President John Mahama, over the appointment of Anthony Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), challenging the legality.
The writ of summons from the High Court lists President John Dramani Mahama, through the Attorney General (3rd Defendant), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong (1st Defendant), and the GRA (2nd Defendant) as defendants in the case.
Sarfowaah has cited an alleged conflict of interest in the appointment with Mr Sarpong still a senior partner at KPMG.
She also raised concerns about the procedure involved in the appointment, stating it was without the existence of a Governing Council, describing it as illegal.
She has therefore, asked the court to revoke Mr Sarpong’s appointment as the Acting Commissioner-General of GRA.
“A perpetual injunction order against the President of the Republic of Ghana restraining him or any person acting by his authority from appointing the 1st Defendant, a former employee of KPMG and/or a person with an interest in KPMG or a person who had an interest in KPMG, as the Acting and/or the Commissioner-General of the GRA;
“Further or in the alternative to relief e), a perpetual injunction order against the Governing Council of the 2nd Defendant restraining the Council or any person acting by its authority from considering and/or proffering advice to the President of the Republic of Ghana as stipulated under Article 195 of the 1992 Constitution in respect of the appointment of the 1st Defendant, a former employee of KPMG and/or a person with an interest in KPMG or a person who had an interest in KPMG, as the Acting and/or the Commissioner-General of the GRA,” it added.
Meanwhile, the court has asked all defendants to file their defenses within eight days of receiving the suit.
Mr Sarpong was appointed on January 20 following the resignation of the former Commissioner-General, Julie Essiam.
His appointment was in accordance with Article 195(1) of the Constitution and Section 13(1) of the Ghana Revenue Act, 2009 (Act 791).
However, it has been meet with mixed reactions.
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