By Alex Boye
The Movement for Truth and Accountability has accused the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) of spending over GHc74 million cedis as mobilization fee for the construction of a 14 storey office building.
The Movement has disclosed that the top management of GRA has contracted Devtraco Company to put a 14 storey Headquarters for the agency near the Kanda Post Office whilst there was no site for the project.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra yesterday, Convener for the Movement for Truth and Accountability, Joseph Bediako, said “the board and top management of the GRA knew that the said 14 storey will not be permitted by the National Security to be put up. This is because the building will be taller than the height of the Jubilee House, which is the seat of the president of Ghana “.
According to him, the Movement has found out that the said 14 storey has been reduced to only 4 storey which also attracts redesigning and additional consultancy fee.
He noted that GRA’s failure to build the office complex on its own Land near the Foreign Affairs Ministry at Airport was an orchestration just to enrich some individuals pockets but not in the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian.
“Out further findings has revealed that part of the said land has been to appreciate an Estate Developer with the Commission” he stated.
“Another interesting development we have uncovered is that a half of the land at Cantonment near Chinese Embassy owned by the GRA has also been given to a Government Appointee” Mr. Bediako disclosed.
He further accused the GRA of creating rooms for some top companies on the country to evade taxes meant for Ghana’s development.
The Movement, he said does not hate any company in the country but has only charged itself to exposed corrupt institutions in the country.
“The Movement for Truth and Accountability have taken it upon ourselves to investigate this agency and to ensure that the monies they mobilize are used for purpose that will benefit the tax payer and not some few individuals” Mr. Bediako stated.
Meanwhile, when contacted the Madam Juli of GRA Support Service kept promising of bringing out documents to prove the Movement wrong for barely a week.
This paper is therefore ready to publish the side of the GRA if they are able to give is their necessary documents.
