Dr. Hamid, a former Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), is standing trial alongside nine others for their alleged involvement in the case.

In his application, Dr. Hamid argues that the release of his passport is necessary to allow him to travel to Canada to attend a political engagement.

The Republic has, however, opposed the request.

As part of his bail conditions, the Court ordered Dr. Hamid to surrender his passport. He also remains on the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) stop list.

Case update: The Republic v. Mustapha Hamid and 9 Others

The Criminal High Court is scheduled to hear on 13 November an application filed by the first accused person, Dr. Mustapha Hamid, seeking the release of his passport in the ongoing GH¢291 million case involving allegations… pic.twitter.com/RAAZAXYMhC

— Office of the Special Prosecutor-Ghana (@ospghana) November 6, 2025

The company urged that discussions surrounding Ghana’s revenue mobilisation be based on verified facts rather than speculation.

In a statement released on Friday, October 31, 2025, and issued by its Communications Department, SML expressed confidence in its operations, stating it remains “proud of the work done, the systems that guided it, and the measurable value delivered to Ghana.”

SML’s Lead Counsel emphasized that all relevant documents will be presented to the appropriate authorities, highlighting the importance of fairness, transparency, and evidence in shaping public discourse.

The company clarified that it is wholly Ghanaian-owned, denying claims of political ownership or control, and described as “inaccurate and misleading” any reports suggesting links to political figures.

Detailing its engagement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), SML explained that its risk-and-reward service contracts were designed to enhance revenue mobilisation through measurable, data-driven outcomes. These services include transaction audits, petroleum measurement audits, and upcoming initiatives for upstream petroleum and solid minerals monitoring.

“All payments made to SML were tied to verified deliverables under continuous GRA supervision,” the statement said, noting that oversight mechanisms such as data validation and reconciliation were applied before any disbursement.

SML also challenged the OSP’s reported figure of GH¢125 million allegedly to be recovered by the state, asserting that, based on reconciled data and verified performance metrics, the government instead owes the company.

The statement highlighted that SML’s downstream petroleum audit system has generated an estimated GH¢20 billion in verified revenue for Ghana, contributing to a 92% increase in taxable volumes and a 33% rise in import clearance revenue.

SML emphasized that its work complements existing state systems rather than duplicating them, noting that the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has certified its petroleum monitoring technology as accurate and effective.

The company dismissed reports linking it to the defunct West Blue Consulting, clarifying that Ghana Link’s ICUMS platform replaced West Blue’s system, not SML’s.

SML also explained its name change from Strategic Mobilisation Enhancement Limited (SMEL) to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) as a legitimate rebranding decision aimed at clarity and simplicity.

The company reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Ghana’s revenue mobilisation through technology, accountability, and professional excellence.

“SML represents a Ghanaian innovation success — a private enterprise that takes operational risks under a performance-based framework and receives payment only after verified results,” the statement concluded.

Source: Adomonline

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