Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has raised concerns regarding President Akufo-Addo‘s formal rejection of a request to disclose a complete audit report recently submitted to him.
Through a letter dated May 7, 2024, the presidency declined a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), seeking access to the comprehensive KPMG audit report concerning the revenue mobilization agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML).
Manasseh, part of the MFWA team that reported on the “SML scandal,” criticized Akufo-Addo’s refusal to release the complete report, referencing a similar action taken by Akufo-Addo’s predecessor, John Dramani Mahama.
In a post on X dated May 8, 2024, Manasseh wrote: “Even when we did not have the Right to Information Law, President John Mahama released a white paper and released the full GYEEDA Report as well. The Akufo-Addo-led opposition NPP was the loudest in asking president Mahama to release that report which was also a subject of my investigation in 2013..”
He added: “What is Akufo-Addo hiding from us? The SML deal stinks. If they think hiding the KPMG report will make us forget the SML scandal, they should think again. The SML scandal will not die.
“And those behind in it in the past and in the future will face justice, no matter how long it takes,” the post concluded.
Reasons for Akufo-Addo’s rejection of the full KPMG report:
In a letter addressed to the MFWA and signed by the Chief Director to the Chief of Staff, H. M. Wood, the Presidency expressed regrets over its inability to fulfill the media outfit’s request.
“Upon careful consideration and in accordance with section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act, I regret to inform you that your request has been refused. Section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) states that information prepared for or submitted to the President or Vice President containing opinions, advice, deliberations, recommendations, minutes, or consultations, is exempt from disclosure and that disclosure of such information would compromise the integrity of the deliberative process by revealing the thought process, considerations, and influence on decision-making reserved for the highest offices of the land.
“The full KPMG Audit Report comprises opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are integral to the President’s deliberative process and, therefore, qualifies as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i),” the letter read in part.
The Presidency emphasized that the findings and recommendations of the KPMG report had been disclosed in a detailed press statement.