It is emerging that the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, lied under oath when it comes to his actual date of birth.
According to information sighted by DAYBREAK, the GRA boss who is a Revered Minister of God in the Baptist Church, has two dates of birth.
Details are that, while Revered Owusu-Ansah’s passport Number SX002649, issued on August 7 2019, says he was born on October 1, 1961, available information on his GRA document (Curriculum Vitae) reveals he was born on October 10, same year.
This amounts to perjury as it means that Rev. Owusu-Amoah lied under oath.
In whichever way, the GRA boss who took over from his predecessor Emmanuel Kofi Nti in October 2019 barring any last minutes changes, will likely be retiring from service in October.
But what has become of interest to many is, how a man of God will choose to have two dates of birth, a criminal act which is common with non-anointed men of God.
Per his background, critics of the preacher say he should have known better as they expected better from him.
They say his action is not a good example for a man who heads a very important tax collection organization where business are expected to be truthful at all times.
It is unclear the motive behind the obvious contradiction in dates but some argue that with an organization that has it motto as ‘Integrity fairness and service’, the GRA boss did a great disservice to its image.
Even though officials of the GRA have become aware of the discrepancies, he has remained silent working quietly.
Earlier this year, the former Auditor-General (A-G) Daniel Yao Domelevo was also caught in a similar web following which he was asked to proceed on retirement.
Meanwhile, in a related development, there are reports that Rev Owusu-Amoah may be favoured to stay on after his compulsory retirement in October.
The move, according to information, is unpopular with staff of the Authority, bigwigs within government and others in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) itself.
He said to be backed by a few others who are in support of his retention for their parochial interests.
It is alleged that there is serious lobbying on-going on his behalf at a time President Akufo-Addo, is still forming his government.
But critics argue that it will be suicidal politically for him to stay in office beyond October. Some yet to be mentioned individuals are said to be gearing up to oppose his retention publicly.
According to media reports, there have been agitations against Rev Owusu-Ansah for some time now but DAYBREAK is gathering that things degenerated after a letter dated Monday, January 25, 2021 communicated to him through the Public Services Commission (PSC) said that he had been elevated from Acting Commissioner-General to the substantive.
The letter confirming him as the substantive boss of the GRA was said to have been issued on December 19, 2020 and signed by the Executive Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante.
A report by the New Publisher indicates that another person had already been penciled down for the position but, in the interest of the government and party, that name was shelved after news went public that the slot had been given to him.
According to the paper, the consensus, albeit done with some grumblings behind closed doors, was that the man himself retires this October therefore the wait would not cause much havoc.
His alleged retention will therefore not go down well with some people and this may cost the government to a certain point.
Rev. Ammishadai Owusu-Ansah tenure has been marred by some unpopular new policies coupled with the way it was implemented, causing confusion between the business and trading communities and government.
Another group of agitators are thriving business owners who have sacrificed and sponsored the party over the decades but their businesses have dwindled over the last few years and they have reason to blame the GRA for the continuous losses.
