President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate termination of all contracts between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), bringing a decisive end to a deal that has been shrouded in controversy for months.
The directive, issued “forthwith,” follows the recent conclusion of a detailed investigation into the transactions by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a letter from the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, addressed to the Ministry of Finance and the GRA, the President ordered “immediate steps to terminate all existing SML-related contracts.”
The OSP launched its probe in response to mounting public concern over the contracts’ procurement process, financial terms, and scope. SML was engaged by the GRA for revenue assurance services in critical sectors, including the downstream and upstream petroleum industries, as well as minerals and metals.
While the full findings of the OSP’s report have not been made public, the President’s forceful directive to cancel the agreements “forthwith” strongly suggests the investigation uncovered significant irregularities or a failure to obtain necessary approvals.
The Ministry of Finance and the GRA are now tasked with swiftly executing the presidential order. A key focus will be ensuring the termination process does not disrupt the national revenue mobilization systems the contracts were initially designed to support.
This move delivers finality to a high-stakes issue that had drawn intense scrutiny from civil society, political actors, and citizens alike.
