At a time President Akufo-Addo is making appointments to form his government, DAYBREAK has picked up information that suggests that, there is serious jostling for positions to head some security set ups.
Chief among them is the Commissioner for Customs position of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) which is currently being occupied by Colonel Kwadwo Damoah.
Even before Colonel Kwadwo Damoah’s contract and his tenure is expected to come to an end next month, this paper is reliably informed that there is serious lobbying within corridors of power as well as the top of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Earlier this year, the then Deputy Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Felix Mate-Kodjo, had boasted to friends that Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta, was going to make him the substantive and had his team he was going to work with already.
Unfortunately, he was believed to have succumbed to the deadly COVID-19 virus.
Since that time, DAYBREAK is informed that three names have been making the rounds.
The three are: Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu Iddisah, Emmanuel Ohene, as well as Joseph Adu-Kyei.
Emmanuel Ohene featured strongly in the picture until allegedly his cover was blown that he was a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and even a cadre.
Interestingly, according to NDC sources, if they had won the 2020 elections, either Ohene or Alhaji Iddisah would have been considered for the position of Customs Commissioner
One Mrs. Hawawu Salifu of the Debt Management, Compliance and Enforcement Unit (DMCE), was also penciled for the Commissioner Support Service Division (SSD), had government changed and former President John Mahama had won the elections.
As the months went by, the name of Adu-Kyei was conspicuously missing from the list.
Out of the three, one appears to be in pole position for the single slot according to government sources.
The officer, whose name will be withheld for now, is said to be engaging certain powerful individuals within and outside government to seek their endorsement and influence.
He is said to have visited the national chairman of the NPP Freddie Blay, twice.
The wife of the Finance Minister, also is alleged to have been approached to speak to her husband for his endorsement.
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia was not left out in the scheme of things.
According to sources, the officer paid Dr Bawumia a visit to get him to assist him become the next Commissioner of Customs.
He is said to have pleaded with the Vice President to ensure his name is mentioned with assurance to also reciprocate the gesture by supporting his bid to be President.
Recall that in June this year, DAYBREAK published how Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd) was most likely going to be kicked out of office as Customs Commissioner.
Sources within the Finance Ministry had hinted of a plot to get Colonel Damoah out of office even before the expiration of his tenure.
Interestingly, the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah is likely to be rewarded with a contract for his so called ‘transformational agenda’ which many people are yet to see.
More soon
Source: Daybreakgh