Prez Akufo-Addo appoints Julie Essiam as new GRA Commissioner

His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana has appointed Julie Essiam as the new Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), replacing Rev. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah.

Prior to her new appointment, Madam Julie Essiam was the Commissioner responsible for the Support Services Division of the GRA. Her appointment comes hours after President Akufo-Addo dissolved the Board of the GRA.

This also comes days after the Flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Dr Mahamadu Bawumia accused GRA of harassing businesses for taxes due to unrealistic targets.

Though no reason was given for the dissolution of the Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi-led Board, reports say there have been some disagreements lately.

The dissolved GRA Board had Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi as the board chairman, while, Mr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Mad. Adelaide Ahwireng, Prof. Peter Ohene Kyei, Mr. Kwabena Boaten, Mrs. Dela Obeng-Sakyi, Dr. Maxwell Opoku-Afari, and Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei as members.

Ms Essiam is an accomplished banking executive with a stellar career spanning several decades. She was also the Group Executive Member at the Ecobank Group with branches covering 40 countries across North America, Europe, Africa and other parts of the world.

The newly appointed commissioner is also the concept originator and the founder of Africans4Africa (A4A) initiation; a private sector-led development organization that calls for a collaborative effort across the leadership of Africa to contribute to the achievement of an impactful transformation of the continent towards a thriving and prosperous Africa.