Following the Presidency’s decision to withhold the full KPMG audit report on the revenue mobilization arrangement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML), investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni approached President Akufo-Addo.
The reporter took a stand, declaring that it would be useless to try to hide what he called a “stinky” arrangement.
The complete KPMG audit report has not been made public, which has sparked questions about accountability and transparency in the use of public cash.
The Presidency regretted not being able to comply with the request for the whole KPMG audit report in a letter to the MFWA, written by the Chief Director and Chief of Staff, H. M. Wood.
In reaction to the Presidential decision, Manasseh Azure Awuni voiced doubts about the confidentiality assertions made in relation to the KPMG study.
He promised to hold everyone involved in the agreement responsible for their deeds, highlighting the fact that accountability and openness are fundamental components of democratic government.
“It sucks, the SML deal. They ought to reconsider if they believe that withholding the KPMG report will help us forget about the SML incident. The SML controversy won’t go away. And no matter how long it takes, justice will be served to those who have been wronged in the past and in the future.”
He also cited former President John Dramani Mahama’s release of the entire GYEEDA report, emphasizing the value of transparency in addressing matters of public interest.
“President John Mahama released a white paper and the entire GYEEDA Report even before we had the Right to Information Law. The opposition NPP led by Akufo-Addo was the most vocal in requesting that President Mahama make the report public; it was also a topic of my investigation n 2013.
He questioned, “What is Akufo-Addo hiding from us?”
President Akufo-Addo received the completed report from auditing company KPMG about the agreement between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML).
On January 2, 2024, the President tasked KPMG with auditing the contract; the original deadline was set for January 16, 2024, but it was later extended to February 23, 2024.
As per the audit findings, SML has partially fulfilled its responsibilities and received GH¢1,061,054,778.00 in total from 2018 to now.
However, the report also noted that SML’s work had contributed to an increase in revenue in the downstream petroleum sector. Contrary to the audit report’s claims, SML has disputed receiving GH¢1,061,054,778.00 for its contract with the GRA, arguing that KPMG cited the figure “without reference to the investments made and the taxes paid” during the review period. In response to the report, Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), stated that the foundation had submitted a Right to Information (RTI) request to the presidency for the full KPMG Audit Report.
