Ghana’s long-standing struggle against institutional corruption has once again come under the spotlight, as the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has found the former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Mr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah culpable, in a procurement scandal that caused financial loss of about GH¢9 million to the state.
The decision follows a petition filed by the Movement for Truth and Accountability accusing the former GRA boss of procurement irregularities and abuse of office during his tenure.
CHRAJ’s investigation confirmed that Mr. Owusu-Amoah awarded contracts “under dubious circumstances” to Ronor Motors Ltd, Sajel Motors Ltd, and Telinno Ghana Ltd, for the supply of vehicles and logistics to the GRA on October 1, 2021.
According to the Commission’s report, the GRA, under Mr. Owusu-Amoah’s leadership, misled the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) into approving the contracts through single-source procurement, a method intended only for emergencies or unique circumstances.
The report, described this as a clear violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), leading to significant financial loss to the state.
“The Respondent misled the PPA in approving the request to award the contracts, using the single-source method in dubious circumstances,” the report stated.
Systemic Corruption and Accountability Deficit
CHRAJ emphasised that the violations reflected a broader culture of impunity and systemic corruption in Ghana’s public sector, where procurement processes are one of the largest gateways for government expenditure continue to be manipulated for private gain.
The Commission held that, as Head of Entity, Mr. Owusu-Amoah bore full responsibility for all actions taken under his watch in accordance with Section 17 of Act 663 (as amended). Consequently, CHRAJ has barred him from holding any public office for five (5) years.
“The Respondent is disqualified from holding any public office for a period of five years from the date of this decision,” CHRAJ declared, adding that the sanction was appropriate given the magnitude of the statutory breaches.
Referral for Prosecution
Recognising the criminal dimension of the findings, CHRAJ has referred the case to the Attorney-General’s Department for possible prosecution of Mr. Owusu-Amoah and the directors of the implicated companies.
The Commission cited provisions of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), noting that the alleged acts of corruption, fraud and causing financial loss to the state warranted criminal proceedings and recovery of the US$826,551 lost.
Companies Blacklisted
In a rare move, CHRAJ also recommended that the implicated companies -Sajel Motors Ltd,and Telinno Ghana Ltd – be banned from engaging in any government business for misrepresenting their qualifications to secure the contracts.
The Commission called on the PPA Board to invoke Section 3(q) of Act 663 (as amended) to debar the firms and maintain a national database of contractors and suppliers to prevent repeat offences.
CHRAJ urged the PPA to strengthen enforcement of the Public Procurement Regulations, 2022 (L.I. 2466) and to adopt a proactive stance against the abuse of single-source procurement, which has become a major source of public sector corruption.
“Strict adherence to procurement regulations will ensure value for money in contract awards and help check incompetence and corruption,” the report noted.
A Reflection of Ghana’s Corruption Dilemma
Analysts say this case underscores the entrenched corruption within Ghana’s public institutions, where accountability mechanisms often fail until public pressure or whistleblower action forces investigations. Despite the sanctions, critics argue that unless prosecution and recovery are swiftly pursued, such findings may only serve as symbolic gestures in the country’s ongoing anti-corruption struggle.
CHRAJ commended the complainant for their “public-spiritedness” in exposing the matter and acknowledged the cooperation of witnesses and institutions that assisted in the investigation.
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