A report filed by Asaaseradio.com indicates that the probability of President Akufo-Addo releasing the full KPMG report of an audit of the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) deal is high.

The portal cited a source at the Jubilee House who indicated that President Akufo-Addo was likely to exercise his discretionary power and authorise the disclosure of the KPMG report at the opportune time.

This comes after the presidency declined a Right to Information application filed by the Media Foundation for West Africa.

Why Akufo-Addo rejected the release 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.

About the GRA-SML investigations

There were allegations of corruption related to the SML deal where the company receives up to GH¢24 million monthly payments from the government of Ghana.

The contract, which was entered into by GRA and SML was to enhance revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, the upstream petroleum production and minerals and metals resources value chain.

SML after an investigative piece by the Fourth Estate in December 2023 debunked claims of being awarded a 10-year contract duration, insisting that it has been given a 5-year contract instead.

The company further dispelled claims that it takes $100 million annually from its contract.

The Ghana Revenue Authority, in a statement issued on Wednesday, December 20, 2023, also affirmed that its board and management followed the right processes in procuring the services of SML.

“The Contract is for five (5) years and is performance-based and approved under Section 40 of the Public Procurement Act, Act 663, 2003.”

The Fourth Estate also said its investigations have disproved wild claims by SML that it had helped save Ghana billions of cedis that would have been lost in the downstream petroleum sector but for its intervention.

The Finance Committee of Parliament on December 23, 2023, recommended a suspension of all payments under the government’s contract with SML from 2024, pending a probe into the contract by Parliament.

The committee said upon a review of the contract, it requires Parliamentary approval under the Financial Management Act, hence the need for the GRA to be notified about the statutory requirement.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo subsequently appointed KPMG to conduct an audit into the transaction between Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd.

On April 2, 2024, President Akufo-Addo received the KPMG report 3 months after tasking the audit firm to investigate the GRA-SML deal.

The government after reviewing the report, issued a press statement adopting the recommendations of KPMG in full. By the adoption, the government directed the GRA to review the deal among other directives.

SA/MA

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