John Dramani Mahama is the President of Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to terminate all existing contracts between the Government of Ghana and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
The directive follows the conclusion of investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which found no justifiable basis for the government’s engagement with SML.
A letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, instructed the Minister of Finance to take immediate steps to end all contractual arrangements involving the revenue assurance firm.
‘There was no genuine need for contracting SML’ – Kissi Agyebeng
At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that the investigation revealed no genuine need for the services SML was contracted to perform, raising concerns about value for money and procurement justification.
“The failure to obtain mandatory prior approvals for such a high-value contract represents a serious breach of the legal framework designed to protect state assets,” Agyebeng stated.
The contracts, which aimed to provide revenue assurance services in the petroleum, mining, and liquid bulk distribution (LBD) sectors, were found to lack legitimate operational requirements.
The investigation also revealed that key regulations under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) were allegedly bypassed.
SML insists payments were verified, dismisses OSP claims of political ties
The OSP is set to press charges by the end of November 2025 against several individuals implicated in the SML-GRA contracts. Those expected to face prosecution include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta; current and former Commissioner-Generals of the GRA, Rev Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti; GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa; and former Ministry of Finance Technical Advisor Ernest Akore.
According to Agyebeng, evidence gathered points to criminal conduct during the negotiation, approval, and implementation of the contracts.
The OSP is expected to formally announce specific charges and commence legal proceedings in the coming weeks.
SA/MA
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