The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has this morning filed 78 charges of corruption and corruption-related offences against former Minister for Finance Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and seven others over what prosecutors describe as a criminal enterprise built around the controversial SML revenue assurance contracts.
The case, titled The Republic v. Kenneth Ofori-Atta & 7 Others, has been filed at the Criminal Division of the High Court.
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According to the OSP, the accused persons conspired to manipulate and influence the procurement process to deliver an unlawful advantage to SML, a company formerly known as Strategic Mobilisation Enhancement Limited.
The Key Accused
- Kenneth Ofori-Atta (A1): Minister for Finance at all material times
- Ernest Darko Akore (A2): Chef de Cabinet at the Ministry of Finance
- Emmanuel Kofi Nti (A3): Former Commissioner-General, GRA
- Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah (A4): Former Commissioner-General, GRA
- Isaac Crentsil (A5): Commissioner, Customs Division
- Kwadwo Damoah (A6): Former Commissioner, Customs Division
- Evans Adusei (A7): CEO and beneficial owner of SML
- SML (A8)
The OSP alleges that the accused individuals set up, sponsored, and promoted an elaborate scheme from 2017, using their public offices to secure multi-million-dollar contracts for SML on the basis of false, unverified claims about the company’s technological capabilities.
In its charges, the OSP describes the arrangement as an organized network of patronage and impunity:
“The criminal enterprise was characterised by no genuine need for contracting SML and the contracts were secured through self-serving patronage… based on false and unverified claims,” the charges read.
The OSP says the accused persons ignored mandatory Parliamentary approvals, bypassed the Public Procurement Authority, and ensured that payments to SML were placed on automatic mode regardless of performance.
According to investigators, the actions of the accused led to an immense financial loss to Ghana, amounting to:
- GH¢1,436,249,828.53 already paid
- An intended additional payment of US$2.79 billion over five years had its scheme not been stopped
The OSP notes that the scheme was halted only after three petitioners complained in December 2023, prompting a wide-ranging investigation that ran from December 2023 to October 2025. The government later suspended the contracts in January 2024, and President Mahama finally ordered their termination on 31 October 2025.
The charging documents further state that the accused justified the SML contracts by claiming that the company held exclusive patented technology for petroleum and minerals audits.
“These assertions were false. SML largely pretended to perform the services… resulting in wilful oppressive injury to the public,” the OSP says.
All eight accused persons have been formally charged and will appear before the High Court in the coming days. The OSP assures that it will pursue the case without fear or favour.