24/01/2025
MAINTAIN MR. ANTHONY K. SARPONG AS THE COMMISSIONER-GENERAL OF GRA – DENKYIRA HERITAGE FOUNDATION TO PRESIDENT MAHAMA
All Media Present,
There always comes a time in history when even the most introvert person in a society has to stand on a podium before a large audience to speak for justice to prevail. I think this time calls for such action from Denkyira Heritage Foundation. Although, we are a non-religious and a non-political organization with a vision to championing the development of Denkyira Kingdom and all chiefdoms with Denkyira ancestry through cultural, industrial, tourism, educational, environmental and social advocacies, we are forced to address a political problem today.
Today, we agree with Edmund Burke, (the Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher) when he said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
An unfortunate news report that has since gone viral read as follows:
“Recall appointment of GRA boss or face unpalatable protests from us - NDC group to President Mahama.” (Source:Ghanaweb.com General News, Thursday January 23, 2025).
In paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Group’s Press Release, it was stated:
“But it has appeared that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has failed to live up to the confidence that we have all placed in him, specifically in relation to his appointment at the helm of the GRA. His appointment of Mr. Anthony K. Sarpong is shocking and disappointing because this is a man who has direct ties to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). In fact, Sarpong was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo to serve on the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), in September 2020.��What makes this the more troubling is the fact that such a person, who served together with other known NPP-aligned personalities like Mrs. Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah who also became the boss at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), would be given such a distinguished political appointment ahead of the wealth of other experienced NDC figures who have committed their sweat to this great party, helping it win such a decisive election in 2024, as has been emphatically also represented in the Parliament of Ghana.��The Denkyira Heritage Foundation wants the Group to understand that Mr Anthony K. Sarpong holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Financial Risk Management from London Metropolitan University, UK; Post-Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Manchester, UK; and a First Class Honours in Business Administration (Accounting Option) from the University of Ghana.
Mr. Sarpong is a Chartered Accountant with over 21 years of experience in audit and advisory services across a number of sectors including Financial Services; Consumer and Industrial Markets (CIM); and Telecom, Media and Technology. He leads some of the firm’s largest and complex cross-functional engagements.
From the above, Mr. Sarpong is both a very competent and a very professional Ghanaian whose services were sought by the Government of Ghana in 2020.
We want to ask the leader of the Group whether all his colleagues at work are NDC members? If no, then, can we also say that he is not a loyal member of the NDC?
We want the Group to understand that there are two types of politicians: those who publicly do politics and those who do politics behind the scenes.
Can the Group mention the names all individuals and companies that financed the political campaign of the NDC during the 2024 general elections in Ghana? If no, then, they should give the President the leeway to make his appointments.
If they are very well informed, we do not think that they are more informed than the person who is the head of the Security Forces in Ghana. They are not more informed than the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces. They are also not more informed than a man who has been a President before and has re-ascended the Presidency of Ghana.
For their information, this is the first time in the history of Upper Denkyira East Constituency that the NDC emerged victorious in both the Parliamentary and the Presidential Elections! The people of Upper Denkyira East expressed their fullest confidence in Hon. Emelia Ankomah and His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.
Hon. Emelia Ankomah secured 24,426 votes (56.26%), defeating the incumbent MP Hon. Festus Awuah Kwofie, who garnered 18,895 votes (43.52%). What makes this NDC victory special is that Hon. Emelia Ankomah emerged victorious in a Constituency previously dubbed as “NPP Stronghold”.
Do the members of the said Group know all the people who financed the campaign of Hon. Emelia Ankomah to help her win the Parliamentary Seat on the ticket of the NDC for the first time?
Men like Mr. Anthony K. Sarpong chose to invest their resources in securing the Parliamentary Seat of Upper Denkyira East for the NDC!
We condemn the actions of the Group that released the press statement and also went to the premises of the Ghana Revenue Authority to sack Mr. Sarpong from his office.
Not all politicians behave like Serial Callers. There are some who choose to be anonymous in politics and Mr. Sarpong is one of such persons.
Mr. President, we the people of Upper Denkyira East want to remind you that for the first time, the good people voted massively for your Party. All professionally competent people who helped you secure the Parliamentary and Presidential victories in Upper Denkyira East such as Mr. Anthony Sarpong must be given the mandates they deserve. We will not stand idle and let some few people who do not know the entire membership of the NDC to intimidate and sabotage the appointment of Mr. Anthony K. Sarpong as the Commissioner-General of GRA.
We know we voted for a man who is highly informed to know the right people who will help him in his governance.
Please, do not allow any less-informed Group/Groups to use brute force to sabotage your appointments. You will need competent people to help steer the affairs of this country. We wish you well as you retain Mr. Anthony K. Saprong as the Commissioner-General of the GRA.
Thank you very much.
Nana Boadu Ntiamoah
Executive Director of Denkyira Heritage Foundation
0545224642
Mr. Samuel Opoku
Programs Manager - 0245127298
Mohammed Rasko Radiuu
Traditional Council Reporter
0540831418
Denkyira Adehyeɛ Isaac Mensah John Dramani Mahama
