US$100 million SML scandal: I don't owe GRA an apology

The US$100 million SML scandal is becoming difficult to sweep under the carpet on all fronts as the GRA boss exists the country hours after the President demanded an audit into the cntract. MP for North Tongue, Hon Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has questionsed why the GRA boss was permitted to leave the country when there is supposed to be an audit at the GRA.

Hon. Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa has told the Ghana Revenue Authority that he does not owe them an apology for the good and glaring findings of investigations about their work and that they surely are not going to get an apology from him. This was part of his response to the GRA, which was posted on his Twitter account.

The alleged US$100 million scandal involving Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and Ghana’s oil revenue management has become a significant point of contention in the West African nation. While details remain fluid and contested, the saga poses questions about transparency, accountability, and potential irregularities in resource utilization. This two-page summary explores the key aspects of the controversy, providing an overview of the accusations, counter-arguments, and current developments.

The MP stated that the GRA’s response to his findings was flawed, as they failed to discredit his findings regarding their operations. “The GRA response abysmally fails to discredit the findings of my unimpeachable parliamentary oversight.” He stated.

This follows the information that the President ordered a crucial audit into a gigantic scandal and then allowed the head of the organization under audit to proceed on leave and be assisted to travel out of the country during the said audit.

The MP further said that the actions by the government and the GRA to allow the GRA boss to leave the country when there was an audit were wrong. He added that the GRA Commissioner-General left Ghana on January 3, 2024, a few hours after the January 2, 2024, presidential directive for a KPMG audit.

The US$100 Million SML Scandal: A Murky Affair in Ghanaian Oil Revenue Management

Central Allegations:

Exorbitant Contract: At the heart of the scandal lies a purported 10-year contract between SML and the Ghanaian government, signed in 2020. The investigative journalism platform, The Fourth Estate, claims the contract guarantees SML a staggering US$100 million per year for revenue assurance services in the oil sector. This exorbitant figure, exceeding the revenue generated from some oil blocks, has raised concerns about overpayment and potential sweetheart deals.
Inflated Savings Claims: Another major accusation leveled against SML is the overestimation of its contributions to revenue recovery. SML touted itself as having saved Ghana over GH¢3 billion through its interventions. However, independent investigations by The Fourth Estate found this claim to be completely fabricated, raising doubts about the company’s effectiveness and potential attempts to mislead the public.
Lack of Transparency: The contract itself and details of SML’s operations have been shrouded in secrecy. Critics allege a lack of transparency surrounding the deal, hindering proper scrutiny and fueling suspicions of wrongdoing.

SML’s Rebuttal:

SML has vigorously refuted the accusations, presenting a different narrative of the situation. They have challenged the 10-year contract claim, asserting that the actual contract stipulates a five-year duration. Additionally, they deny receiving US$100 million annually, claiming the figure cited is a misinterpretation of their projected total earnings over the entire contract period. Regarding the supposed revenue savings, SML maintains the validity of their claims, attributing the discrepancy in reporting to a misunderstanding of their presentation to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Current Developments and Implications:

The scandal has ignited public discourse and garnered significant media attention. Civil society groups have demanded increased transparency from the government and a thorough investigation into the contract. The Minority Caucus in Parliament has also joined the chorus of concern, urging an independent probe into the alleged irregularities. Despite SML’s counter-arguments, the cloud of suspicion hangs heavy, prompting calls for accountability and reforms in the management of Ghana’s oil resources.

Unresolved Questions:

Several crucial questions remain unanswered:

What are the exact terms of the contract between SML and the government?
Has SML truly delivered on its promised revenue assurance services?
Were there any irregularities in the awarding of the contract?
Are there safeguards in place to prevent similar controversies in the future?

Finding answers to these questions and ensuring genuine accountability is crucial for restoring public trust and safeguarding Ghana’s oil wealth. Only through careful investigation and transparent communication can the true extent of the SML scandal be revealed and necessary corrective measures be implemented.

Below is the full statement from the MP

I have become aware of the GRA statement.

Let me assure the GRA that I do not owe them an apology, and they surely are not going to get one.

The GRA response abysmally fails to discredit the findings of my unimpeachable parliamentary oversight.

Consistent with the revelations I published, the GRA has only confirmed that Ghana is the only country in the world where the President orders a crucial audit into a gigantic scandal and the head of the organization under audit is concurrently allowed to proceed on leave and assisted to travel out of the country during the said audit—absolutely incredulous!

READ: Check What Mahama Said That Made Ghanaians Happy

Under another incorruptible president, this GRA boss would have been fired for daring to leave the jurisdiction during such a high-profile national audit into the create, loot, and share scheme he collaborated with Ken Ofori-Atta to perpetrate.

The GRA release further states that Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Ansah is on a 6-day leave and will resume work on January 15, 2024. This does not add up. The GRA Commissioner-General left Ghana on January 3, 2024—a few hours after the January 2, 2024 presidential directive for a KPMG audit. Leaving Ghana on the 3rd of January, 2024, and resuming work on the 15th of January, 2024, which instructively is the entire period of the promised 2-week audit, cannot be described as a 6-day leave.

These bizarre developments and blatant official untruths are bound to happen when a corrupt government opts for deception and a grand cover-up instead of an honest, transparent, and credible investigation into the US$100 million SML scandal.

Nothing will stop us from pursuing our constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight. Forward ever, backward never!

For God and country.

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