Where are the men? Prof Gyampo quizzes NPP

The appointment of Kwame Owusu as board chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has pricked the chagrin of Prof Ransford Gyampo, Associate Professor of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana.

He questioned whether the New Patriotic Party’s claim of having the men to govern is still relevant.

In the run-up to the 2016 election, one of the claims of the then candidate Nana Addo Danwka Akufo-Addo and his running mate, Mahamudu Bawumia was that the NPP had the best men to steer the affairs of Ghana.

The reappointment of Kwame Owusu, former head of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), has however stoked doubt for the political science lecturer.

Mr. Owusu grabbed media headlines last year as head of the GMA when he allegedly spent GH¢66,000 to build a kitchen cabinet.

He admitted spending GH¢1 million to renovate a two-bedroom house into a four-bedroom house but the price of the renovation was described as too high.

The renovation, however, drew public anger when it emerged the refurbished house had 11 air-conditioners.

Mr. Owusu defended the number of air conditioners, arguing it should have been 13 because that was more fitting of his status as Director-General of the Maritime Authority.

Another revelation against Mr. Kwame Owusu that angered majority of Ghanaians was that he blew GH¢135,125 one night on food and GH¢10,652 on another occasion on food for just eight people.

Shortly after the scandals, he resigned his position but the outcome of a probe into allegations of financial malfeasance remain shrouded in secrecy.

However, Prof Ransford Gyampo, on news Newsfile Saturday, questioned why the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government would risk controversy by reappointing Mr. Owusu.

“His responses when this issue popped up weren’t helpful. The sarcasm and arrogance displayed and the way and manner he went about it weren’t helpful.”

“Again, I have a little difficulty. The current NPP administration, are they still touted as the party that has the men to govern? If the party still stands by that reputation of having the men to govern then it’s a bit difficult for me to see why the same person, who is 65 years, comes back,” Prof Gyampo said.

He argued Mr. Owusu’s reappointment creates the impression President Akufo-Addo is not concerned about the allegations leveled against the new GRA board chair.