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A coalition of concerned NDC youth groups in Tamale has expressed dissatisfaction with the appointment of Anthony Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), describing it as inappropriate.
Mr. Sarpong, who was appointed by President John Dramani Mahama, previously served as a Senior Partner at the auditing firm KPMG before assuming his new role.
The youth groups, however, have questioned his suitability for the position, alleging that he is affiliated with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). They have called on the president to revoke the appointment and select a more credible candidate for the role.
At a press conference in Tamale, the coordinator of the Concerned Youth of NDC, Abu Jamal, expressed their concerns:
“We do not agree to this appointment for him to serve in your government because we do not see him as someone who can lead a revenue generation drive due to his affiliation with the NPP party. Mr. Sarpong was appointed by the former president Nana Akufo-Addo to serve on the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) in September 2020.
“He was a man who served together with other NPP persons and the former EOCO boss. Our wealth in Ghana is in trouble with Mr. Sarpong. We therefore wish to draw the attention of President Mahama, that the NDC is made up of knowledgeable people who can manage the various sectors better and excellently. Therefore, for us, Mr. Sarpong’s appointment should be revoked,” he stated.
The group has threatened to stage a protest if their concerns are not addressed. They believe there are other qualified individuals within the NDC who can effectively manage the GRA’s revenue mobilization efforts.
“We are giving the president 5 working days to revoke the appointment of Mr. Sarpong. If such a move persists, we will be forced to hit the street,” Abu Jamal warned.
The youth groups remain adamant that President Mahama should reconsider his decision to ensure a more competent candidate occupies the role of Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA.