Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has called for the complete dissolution of the contentious revenue mobilisation deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, May 23, Awuni, whose investigative work with the Fourth Estate, a project of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), exposed flaws in the deal, expressed his disappointment with the government’s attempts to retain parts of the contract.
He highlighted the lack of evidence showing that SML held politically affiliated oil marketing companies accountable, noting these companies engage in practices such as diversion, dilution, and under-reporting, which rob the government of significant revenue.
“The fact that politically affiliated OMCs sell products, collect taxes, and fail to remit payments to the government is a major revenue loss,” Awuni said.
Based on these findings, Awuni argues that SML is not fulfilling its duties and recommends terminating the contract.
“From this report, I have yet to see anywhere that SML is tackling this problem. The best move is to clear out this deal,” he stated.
SML Controversy
In April this year, an investigation by The Fourth Estate, uncovered numerous irregularities in the contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), the Ministry of Finance, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The investigation revealed discrepancies in SML’s claims regarding its services aimed at tackling revenue losses in the downstream petroleum sector.
President Akufo-Addo subsequently instructed KPMG to conduct a comprehensive audit.
Despite SML’s assertions that its services were effectively addressing under-declaration, dilution, and diversion of petroleum products, evidence presented by The Fourth Estate showed that these functions were being carried out by other companies and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
Managing Director of SML, Christian Tetteh Sottie admitted to the inaccuracies and promptly removed the false claims from the company’s website.
Despite these revelations and other admitted falsehoods, Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta initiated a process in 2023 to expand SML’s contracts to include the gold and oil-producing sectors. This decision significantly increased the annual contract sum to over $100 million.
Following the investigation by The Fourth Estate and subsequent public outcry, President Akufo-Addo suspended the contracts and commissioned KPMG to conduct an audit and submit a report.
While the president released a press statement regarding the findings, the full report provides even more damning revelations about SML’s operations within its contracts with the Ministry of Finance and the GRA.