Some thugs associated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) besieged the offices of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) yesterday, causing chaos, and intimidating employees of the state revenue agency.
The group threatened to shut down the operations of the GRA as part of a protest against the appointment of Anthony Kwasi Sarpong as the Acting Commissioner-General.
The rowdy group issued a statement before storming the premises, describing the presidential appointment as “disappointing”, and demanding its immediate reversal. According to them, Mr. Sarpong’s affiliation with the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) disqualifies him from serving under the NDC administration. The protesters alleged that Mr. Sarpong’s previous appointment to the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), in 2020 by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo was sufficient evidence of his political alignment.
They vowed to physically block Mr. Sarpong from assuming office. “We will not allow him to step foot in this office. This is a clear betrayal of NDC loyalists who have sacrificed for this party,” one member declared during the chaos.
This incident adds to the growing list of violent actions carried out by NDC-affiliated groups since the party reclaimed power in the December 2024 general elections. The immediate aftermath of the electoral victory was marked by widespread violence, with thugs attacking state institutions, locking up public offices, and forcefully evicting civil servants perceived to be aligned with the opposition.
Since the inauguration of President John Dramani Mahama on January 7, lawlessness has persisted, spreading from public institutions to internal party matters.
In President Mahama’s hometown, Bole-Bamboi, NDC youth expressed outrage earlier this week when Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, the area’s Member of Parliament, was overlooked for a ministerial role.
Enraged by the President’s decision, protesters vandalized properties, torched car tyres in front of the house of Mr. Mahama’s late father, and issued threats of further destruction, including plans to set the local party office ablaze.
In Obuasi, violent clashes resulted in the death of so many NDC thugs attempting to seize control of AngloGold Ashanti’s mining operations. The attempt to take over the company, coupled with fierce opposition from security personnel, has underscored the escalation of tensions within the ruling party.
Additionally, supporters of the NDC in the Ho Central constituency torched their party office on Tuesday. Their outrage stemmed from a perceived neglect by President Mahama, who failed to nominate anyone from their constituency for a ministerial appointment. Protesters broke into the office, threw out furniture, equipment, and vital documents before setting the items ablaze using car tyres.
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