A deputy minster of information, Pius Enam Hadzide has justified the appointment of  former Ghana Maritime Authority CEO, Kwame Owusu as the new Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

According to Mr. Hadzide, the appointment of Mr Owusu by President Akufo-Addo to chair the GRA board is based on an excellent track record in his previous position.

Mr Owusu grabbed headlines last year when admitted spending GHS1 million to renovate a two-bedroom house into a four-bedroom house – many said the price tag on the renovation was too high.

Mr Owusu also raised eyebrows when it emerged that the refurbished house had 11 air-conditioners.

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

Mr Owusu who was accused of conflict of interest and corruption while at GMA was shockingly appointed as the Board Chairman of GRA by President Akufo-Addo.

His appointment letter dated June 18 was signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate you formally on your appointment,” the letter said.

This was greeted with stiff opposition by the general public.

But the Deputy Information Minister in an interview on Citi FM described the president’s decision as a good one.

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Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide

“If you go and check the track record of the gentleman in question, during his time at the Ghana Maritime Authority, his track record was quite impressive. The facts speak for themselves. In 2016, that organisation was making loses, revenue was about some GHc64 million and their expenditure was about GHc72 million.

“When Mr. Owusu assumed office in 2017, they made a revenue of GHc99 million and expended GHc66 million thereabout. The organisation was turned around into a profit-making organisation,” he said.