Confusion gripped the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting held today, January 29, 2024, when Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Hon. Sam George, posed a question on the age of the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah appeared before the Committee with the Deputy Finance Minister, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, to respond to questions on some infractions.
During the meeting Mr Nartey George asked when the Commissioner-General attained the age of 60. First, Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku, interjected, arguing that Sam George’s question is a “personal” one.
However, Sam George defended his question, arguing that the Finance Minister came before Parliament to inform the House on behalf of President Akufo-Addo that he [President] was no longer going to give contract extensions to people above the age of 60, especially when their expertise was not scarce.
“And so if I ask a question that which year did the Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority attain the age of 60, it is not a personal question, it is not a personal question [because] he is a public servant,” he added.
After this clarification, the Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon Abena Osei-Asare, also mounted a defense for the GRA boss, arguing that the question is not a public interest question but the chairman of the committee, James Klutse Avedzi, insisted that the Commissioner General should answer the question.