The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called for an immediate cessation of all contracts between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the recovery of all related payments to protect the public purse.
At a press conference in Accra, dubbed ‘Moment of Truth’ on Monday, NDC’s National Communications Officer, Mr. Sammy Gyamfi, strongly criticized the current administration’s handling of the SML-GRA contracts.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had previously, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, responded to a KPMG audit report by recommending the termination of two out of three contracts—the Transaction Audit Service Agreement and the External Price Verification Agreement—and suggested a review of the third, the Downstream Petroleum Audit Service Agreement.
Contrary to the President’s directive, Mr. Gyamfi insisted that “all three contracts must immediately be abrogated,” citing their award’s lack of due process and legality.
“These contracts were awarded without adhering to the Public Procurement law, the GRA Act, and the Public Financial Management Act (PFMA). They weren’t approved by the GRA board or Parliament as required, rendering them illegal, null, void, and of no legal effect,” Mr. Gyamfi asserted.
He further criticized the contracts as ‘duplicitous, needless, and detrimental to the nation’s interests,’ stating that both the Fourth Estate and KPMG had shown there were no value-for-money assessments before the contracts were awarded.
Sammy Gyamfi also dismissed claims by SML that its services had significantly reduced malfeasance in the downstream petroleum sector, pointing out the lack of evidence provided by the company to support its claims of savings to the country.
“The government’s claim that the state has benefited from these services based on increased petroleum volumes and tax revenue is utterly ridiculous. These are due to general increases in consumption and prices, not the actions of SML,” he explained.
Mr. Gyamfi called for the immediate release of the full KPMG report and the prosecution of all individuals involved in the SML deal.
He further stated that an NDC government would not recognize the contracts with SML, promising thorough investigations and recovery of any illegal payments made to SML.
“When elected, we shall launch credible and transparent investigations into this stinking SML scandal, and ensure the prosecution of all persons complicit in these illegal transactions,” he added.
