Source: newsthemegh.com
The disputed contract between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is the subject of an investigation, according to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The OSP claims that The Fourth Estate filed a complaint on December 18, 2023, which prompted the preliminary investigation.
The complaints, according to the Special Prosecutor, were made by three journalists: Manasseh Azure Awuni, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Evans Aziamor-Mensah. This was mentioned in the office’s December 29, 2023, half-yearly report, which also included updates on completed and continuing investigations.
“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 Special Prosecutor further states that 152 other instances are being looked into at different stages of consideration. The Ministry of Finance granted the corporation the SML contract, and GRA has a five-year term that is renewable for an additional five.
For that first contract, the company is paid up to GHS24 million each month, and it has stated that its activities saved Ghana about GHS3 billion.
But two weeks ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo halted the contract and named KPMG, a global audit and accounting firm, to audit it and provide a report in two weeks. This came about subsequent to the legislature approving a resolution to look into the contract.