The selection of Anthony Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is causing President John Mahama to be involved in a legal dispute.
The nomination of Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) by President John Mahama is being challenged in a lawsuit brought by an individual named Emmanuella Sarfowaah through Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, who is also the Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
President John Dramani Mahama is named as one of the defendants in a writ of summons issued by the High Court. The other defendants include the Attorney General, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
By naming Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the plaintiff in her writ draws attention to worries about a possible conflict of interest in President Mahama’s nomination.
His selection as head of GRA, according to Sarfowaah, causes major worries, as Kwasi Sarpong maintains ties to KPMG, where he is a senior partner.
The complaint stated that the nomination of the GRA Commissioner-General was unlawful because there was no Governing Council, among other concerns with the appointment procedure.
“The Plaintiff asserts that the 1st Defendant was, and/or is, the Senior Partner of KPMG (a foreign accounting firm operating in Ghana), in accordance with the definition of ‘Senior Partner’ as the Chief Executive Officer of the firm as stated on the KPMG website as of January 26, 2025,” the writ reads in part.
On January 21, 2025, there was no Governing Council for the 2nd Defendant, a statutory body that is required to give recommendations before the President of the Republic of Ghana can select the 2nd Defendant’s commissioner general. The plaintiff’s ties to the 2nd Defendant, with the 1st Defendant serving as its Senior Partner until approximately January 21, 2025.
Since President Mahama appointed Kwasi Sarpong to the position of Acting Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the private citizen has asked the court to overturn the appointment.
“An order revoking 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 KPGM, by the President of the Republic of Ghana as the Acting Commissioner-General of the GRA, is necessary,” the writ continued. “Furthermore, the plaintiff claims, or alternatively, a finding that 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 KPGM until 21st January 2025, is unlawful as it was made in violation of Ghana.”
Furthermore, the plaintiff is attempting to halt the nomination of Kwasi Sarpong by President John Dramani Mahama by requesting an injunction.
“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,” the document read.
After Julie Essiam resigned as Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority on January 20, 2025, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong was chosen to fill the position.
