Ghana: Julie Essiam appointed as first female Commissioner-General of GRA

The Finance Ministry has revealed Julie Essiam as the newly appointed Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, marking her as the first woman to hold this esteemed position. Her appointment follows the departure of Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, who was relieved from his duties on March 27.

In conjunction with Ms. Essiam’s appointment, President Akufo-Addo has dissolved the board of the GRA, though the specific rationale behind this decision has not been provided.

With an illustrious career spanning numerous decades, Ms. Essiam brings a wealth of expertise and experience to her new role. She pledges to usher in a new era of leadership at the GRA, emphasizing sustainable transformation as a cornerstone of her approach.

Julie Essiam’s commitment to community development and talent transformation has garnered her widespread recognition and admiration on both local and international fronts. With an extensive background, including roles as Group Executive at Ecobank Transnational Inc., Director at Citibank Group, and Vice President at Chase Manhattan Bank, Essiam is poised to leverage her sharp business acumen and leadership prowess in her new position.

In her prior capacity as Commissioner for the Support Services Division of the GRA, Ms. Essiam led a series of initiatives focused on bolstering revenue generation and operational efficiency.

Under her leadership, notable accomplishments included driving the implementation of innovative digital transformation strategies within the revenue collection body. These initiatives aimed to optimize operational processes and elevate efficiency levels, ultimately contributing to enhanced performance.

Her appointment comes at a crucial juncture for GRA, as the Organisation undergoes a period of transition and transformation. With her proven track record of driving positive change, Essiam is expected to provide stability and leadership during this transition phase, ensuring continuity and progress in the GRA’s mandate.

Moreover, Essiam’s appointment is believed to align with the priorities of the new Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who in a meeting on Monday, March 25, 2024, with GRA leadership and the Tema Customs Division, emphasised the need to enhance domestic revenue mobilisation, counter smuggling activities, and streamline GRA’s operations.

By empowering GRA staff to meet their targets and fostering collaboration with stakeholders, Essiam is poised to play a pivotal role in leading the GRA to advance the stated priorities of Ghana’s new Minister for Finance.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, the soon-to-be GRA boss is described as warm, personable, and down-to-earth by GRA staff. Her strict but inclusive and respectful management style has indeed endeared her to GRA staff.

Ms Essiam’s approachable demeanor and genuine concern for the well-being of employees have also earned her praise from colleagues at all levels of the organization, and it is hoped that under her tenure, longstanding issues of promotion and staff welfare will be addressed with renewed urgency.