The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated an investigation into the controversial contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The focus of the probe is on potential breaches of procurement processes and allegations of corruption and corruption-related activities.
This investigative move follows a complaint filed on December 18, 2023, by The Fourth Estate, represented by journalists Evans Aziamor-Mensah, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Manasseh Azure Awuni. The details of the investigation were outlined in the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s half-yearly report released on December 29, 2023.
“The Office has commenced a preliminary investigation into contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (a company registered in Ghana) and Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals resources value chain.”
“The preliminary investigation is based on a complaint filed on 18 December 2023 by The Fourth Estate (a project of Media Foundation for West Africa) represented by three (3) journalists – Evans Aziamor-Mensah, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Manasseh Azure Awuni. The complaint alleged possible corruption, including breaches of the Public Procurement Act, in respect of the contractual arrangements,” the OSP added.
In a December 2023 investigative report, The Fourth Estate implicated Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Finance in a contentious contract.
The report alleged that GRA had granted SML a purported 10-year contract with an annual payment of $100 million, raising concerns about possible irregularities. SML refuted this claim, asserting that it had a five-year contract instead.
The GRA, in a statement on December 20, 2023, maintained that proper procurement procedures were followed. On January 3, 2024, SML welcomed President Akufo-Addo’s directive to suspend its ongoing revenue assurance operations and undergo an audit of its contract with the GRA and the Ministry of Finance.
President Akufo-Addo appointed KPMG, an audit, tax, and advisory services firm, to conduct an immediate audit. SML expressed confidence that the audit would provide a clear and accurate depiction of its operations.
Meanwhile, the Minerals Commission has stated that it did not play any role in the award of the contract to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for revenue assurance services in the gold production sector.
The CEO of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, responded to a Right to Information (RTI) request, stating that the commission had no involvement in awarding the contract to SML.