By Emmanuel Oti Acheampong
In a riveting session of the Public Accounts Committee on January 29, 2024, the Commissioner General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, stirred up controversy by refusing to disclose his age.
The drama unfolded when committee member and Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, probed the Commissioner General about his age, a query met with resistance.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, objected to the question, deeming it personal and argued that it should be ruled out.
However, Committee Chairman James Klutse Avedzi overruled the objection, asserting that the Commissioner General, being a public officer, should disclose his age.
In his defense, Sam George argued that the public has a vested interest in the age of the Commissioner General.
He referenced a statement made by Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta during last year’s Budget reading, wherein it was emphasized that individuals reaching retirement age would not be granted contractual extensions unless their expertise was deemed scarce.
The Commissioner General’s refusal to divulge his age or retirement date added a layer of intrigue to the proceedings, prompting a temporary adjournment of the Public Accounts Committee sitting.
Despite the committee’s efforts, attempts to extract this information from Dr. Amishaddai proved futile, leaving many with raised eyebrows.
