President John Mahama has directed the immediate termination of all contracts between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) following the conclusion of an investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
The directive, which calls for the cancellation of the agreements “forthwith”, was communicated in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the Ministry of Finance and the GRA.
According to portions of the letter sighted by The Sikaman Times, “Following the conclusion of the investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into the contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), I have been directed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic, to request that you take immediate steps to terminate all existing SML-related contracts forthwith.”
The decision brings closure to a matter that has drawn months of public scrutiny and debate. The OSP’s investigation was launched after widespread concerns from civil society groups, political figures, and members of the public regarding the procurement process, scope, and financial terms of the SML contracts.
SML had been engaged by the GRA to perform revenue assurance functions in the downstream petroleum, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals sectors. However, the agreements—particularly a consolidated contract—faced criticism for a perceived lack of transparency and questions over value for money.
Although the full findings of the OSP’s report have not been made public, the President’s instruction to terminate the contracts “forthwith” indicates that the investigation may have uncovered significant irregularities or procedural breaches, reinforcing the concerns raised by stakeholders.
The Ministry of Finance and the GRA have been directed to take immediate steps to implement the termination, ensuring that the process does not disrupt the existing revenue mobilisation systems the contracts were intended to support.
