Tension is building up between the leadership of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) over some changes in line of duties.
Report indicates that the tension is between the first female Commissioner-General of the GRA, Julie Essiam and the Commissioner for Customs Division of the GRA, Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo.
A source close to the Commission said these two heads took office at the same time when Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah was relieved from his duties on March 27, 2024.
Report suggests that Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo had made series of attempts to effect changes at the GRA but Ms. Essiam is reportedly putting impediments on his efforts.
“The new Commissioner of Customs, Brigadier General Ziblim Ayorrogo has from his date of appointment, not been able to effect any operational changes due to the fact that, the Commissioner General of GRA; Julie Essiam is preventing him do so”, the source alleged.
The source alleged that “this is happening as a result of Deputy Commissioner for Operation of Customs Division in the person of Emmanuel Ohene, who was aspiring the seat of the Commissioner, is influencing the Commissioner-General to take some of these decisions since the Commissioner-General does not have an in-depth knowledge in customs operations. For instance, decisions regarding the auction unit are being manipulated by these two without the Customs Commissioner, whose mandate it is to control that unit. The procedures involved in dealing with auctions goods are interfered, and this affects revenue at large”.
One of such changes was the Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Auction at Customs, Eric Afari, who has been a Methuselah at the unit but Ms. Essiam is allegedly refusing his transfer and being used for this operation. We are in a critical election year, which government needs revenue to finance its expenses and hence must take a second look at this happening, the source alleged.
The GRA workers are calling for intervention to enable smooth working conditions in the office.
