The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has delivered a damning indictment on the controversial revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and SML (Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited), concluding that there was “no genuine need” for the contract.
In a highly detailed press briefing following a comprehensive investigation, the OSP announced critical findings that point to systemic breaches of public financial regulations and an apparent abuse of official power, resulting in financial loss.
Contract Secured Through “Self-Serving Official Patronage”
Mr. Agyebeng’s investigation found that the contract, which aimed to provide revenue assurance services in the petroleum, mining, and liquid bulk distribution (LBD) sectors, lacked a legitimate operational requirement.
“There was no genuine need for contracting SML for the obligations it’s purported to perform,” the Special Prosecutor declared.
He asserted that the contracts were not awarded based on merit or need but were “secured for SML through self-serving official patronage, sponsorship [and] promotion based on false and unverified claims.”
Egregious Statutory Breaches and Impunity
The OSP’s findings painted a picture of widespread non-compliance with Ghana’s public financial laws. The investigation revealed that the SML contracts were “attended by egregious statutory breaches”, primarily because “mandatory prior approvals were wantonly disregarded by relevant officials who acted with increased and emboldened impunity.”
Source: myjoyonline.com