President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate termination of all contracts between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). This directive comes after a thorough investigation into the transactions, conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The decision was communicated by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, in a letter addressed to both the Ministry of Finance and the GRA. According to parts of the letter, which were reviewed by Graphic Online, it states: “Following the conclusion of the investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into the contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), I have been directed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic, to request that you take immediate steps to terminate all existing SML-related contracts forthwith.”
This decisive action brings finality to a matter that has been the subject of intense public scrutiny and debate for several months. The OSP initiated its investigation amidst widespread concerns from civil society organizations, political actors, and the general public over the procurement process, the scope, and the financial terms of the contracts awarded to SML. The company was engaged by the GRA in a revenue assurance role, primarily in the downstream petroleum, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals sectors.
The agreements, which included a controversial consolidated contract, had been criticised for their lack of transparency and value for money. While the full contents of the OSP’s investigative report have not been made public, the President’s directive to terminate the contracts “forthwith” suggests the investigation uncovered significant irregularities or a lack of requisite approvals, validating the concerns raised by stakeholders.
The Ministry of Finance and the GRA are now expected to swiftly execute the presidential directive, ensuring a seamless termination process that does not disrupt the revenue mobilization systems the contracts were meant to support.
Source: Kester Aburam Korankye
