Martin Kpebu is a private legal practitioner
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu says findings from the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) report on the controversial contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) indicate that several top public officials, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, have questions to answer.
Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on November 1, 2025, Kpebu noted that the OSP’s investigation exposed deep-rooted procurement breaches and “self-serving conduct” in the award of the multimillion-cedi contract.
According to him, the findings make it clear that the deal was “needless” and may have caused financial loss to the state.
President Mahama orders termination of SML contract
“The OSP’s report shows that the GRA and SML entered into a contract that lacked value for money and was driven by personal interests. People at the very top, including former Minister Ofori-Atta, have a lot to explain to Ghanaians,” he said.
The OSP’s report, released in June, concluded that the SML–GRA contract was riddled with statutory and procurement violations and that SML lacked the capacity to perform the services for which it was paid.
The OSP further disclosed that large payments were made to the company without adequate verification.
Speaking at a press conference on October 30, 2025, the OSP announced plans to prosecute six public officials, including Ken Ofori-Atta and former GRA executives, for their roles in the deal.
Kpebu welcomed the arrests but insisted that accountability would only be achieved when prosecutions lead to convictions.
“We have seen arrests before that go nowhere. Until we see people tried and convicted for causing financial loss, these efforts will not have real meaning,” he said.
Following ongoing investigations, President John Dramani Mahama on Friday, October 31, 2025, terminated all existing contracts between the Government of Ghana and SML.
SP/MA
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