The directive, conveyed through a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, followed findings from an investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The OSP report cited alleged procurement breaches, contractual excesses, and questioned the necessity of SML’s engagement.

Addressing journalists in Accra on Friday, November 7, SML’s solicitor, Cephas Boyuo, disclosed that the company’s submission contained extensive documentary evidence addressing each issue raised in the OSP’s report, which formed the basis for the President’s decision.

“Earlier this afternoon, we delivered a comprehensive response to the President on his directive for the termination of the contract between the Ministry of Finance, GRA, and SML, which largely hinged on the OSP’s report.

“In the letter submitted to the President and also to the Attorney General, we provided documentary evidence to each and every paragraph and elaborated on the true and accurate picture of the GRA–Ministry of Finance–SML contract,” Boyuo explained.

He expressed confidence that the documents would allow the President and the Attorney General to undertake an impartial review of the matter.

“We are confident that a review of the documents presented to the President and the Attorney-General would help them appreciate the issues and form a fair, independent opinion on the termination directive,” he added.

In an addendum to its earlier statement, the OSP explained that the savings are in addition to the GHS 1.2 billion already reported after the main SML contract was terminated.

The additional savings, it said, arose from avoiding payments tied to crude oil and gold export monitoring services that were never implemented.

“These contracts, which were based on a variable fee structure linked to exports of crude oil and gold, would have cost the State approximately US$173 million for crude oil and GHS 2.6 billion for gold exports over five years,” the OSP noted in its statement.

According to the anti-graft office, SML did not commence operations in these sectors because the arrangement coincided with an ongoing KPMG audit and criminal investigations initiated by the OSP. Following these developments, President Akufo-Addo ordered the termination of the agreement earlier this year.

The OSP’s analysis estimates that Ghana exports about 3.85 million barrels of crude per month, with SML’s fee set at US$0.75 per barrel. That would have translated into about US$2.89 million monthly and US$34.65 million annually, amounting to US$173 million over five years.

Similarly, gold exports valued at over GHS 5.8 billion per month would have attracted a 0.75% service fee, costing the State GHS 43.7 million monthly and GHS 525 million annually.

The OSP said Ghana’s decision to halt the contracts saved the country from “further costs” while investigations continue into the processes leading to the award of the deal.

The SML probe has been one of the most closely watched anti-corruption investigations in recent months, with civil society groups and opposition politicians calling for transparency in how revenue assurance contracts are awarded in the extractive sector.

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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Read the full response below:

The directive was communicated in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, addressed to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, instructing prompt action to end all agreements involving SML.

The OSP probe examined revenue assurance contracts between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), focusing on alleged procurement breaches, contractual irregularities, and value-for-money concerns.

At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 30, Special Prosecutor Mr. Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that the investigation found “no genuine need for engaging SML for the services it purported to perform.” He further stated that the contracts were awarded through “self-serving official patronage, sponsorship, and promotion based on false and unverified claims.”

However, SML has rejected the OSP’s conclusions, insisting that its operations were lawful, transparent, and beneficial to the state. In a statement issued on Friday, October 31, 2025, the company said it had “fully cooperated with all lawful investigations” and urged that public discussions be based on verified facts rather than speculation.

“We will present all relevant documents before the appropriate authorities. We remain proud of the work done, the controls that governed it, and the measurable value created for Ghana,” said SML’s Lead Counsel.

SML also emphasized that it is a wholly Ghanaian-owned company with no political affiliations. The firm explained that its contracts with the GRA were structured under a “risk-and-reward” framework aimed at boosting national revenue mobilisation through measurable outcomes.

The company further noted that its services — including transaction audits, external price verification, and downstream petroleum measurement — were conducted under GRA supervision, with payments made only after results were independently verified.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, October 30, Mr. Agyebeng said investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) uncovered serious statutory breaches, conflicts of interest, and unjustified payments linked to the SML contracts.

“There was no genuine need for contracting SML for the work it purported to perform,” he stated, describing the agreements as “blighted by statutory breaches.” He added that the company lacked both the infrastructure and professional capacity to execute the assigned tasks.

The Special Prosecutor also noted that the GRA failed to submit full agreements between SML and its third-party collaborators, undermining transparency and accountability in the procurement process.

Mr. Agyebeng alleged that the entire arrangement was driven by “self-serving official patronage, sponsorship, and promotions based on false and unverified claims.” He named former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as “the chief patron, supporter, and promoter” of the SML deal, asserting that both Ofori-Atta and the company’s management “were criminally minded in their operations.”

The probe concluded that payments made to SML were unjustified and represented a misuse of public funds, as the contract was not based on any genuine operational need.

These revelations mark a major development in the ongoing investigation into the SML–GRA contract, which has drawn widespread scrutiny over alleged procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, and lack of value for money.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 30, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said investigations showed there was no genuine need for SML’s services.

He described the contracts as arising from “self-serving official patronage, sponsorship, and promotion based on false and unverified claims.”

Mr. Agyebeng revealed that key officials bypassed mandatory approval processes, carrying out actions with “increased impunity.”

The probe also uncovered a lack of proper financial oversight, with payment systems operating on “automatic mode,” leading to disbursements detached from actual work performed — a situation that caused substantial loss to the Republic.

“The manner in which these contracts were initiated and executed undermined due process and accountability in public procurement,” he said.

The findings form part of a broader OSP investigation into revenue assurance and monitoring contracts awarded to SML by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance.

In a statement issued Wednesday, SML said officers from the OSP, accompanied by National Security operatives, stormed its offices in Osu and Tema without prior notice or the presentation of a warrant.

According to the company, the operation led to the seizure of key servers, proprietary documents, gold analyzers, and other technical equipment—many of which were still under development and essential to SML’s work with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The company also alleged that four employees were temporarily detained and two others assaulted during the exercise.

“We have fully cooperated with the OSP since March, submitting all requested documents and remaining open to further engagement. This raid, conducted without formal communication, undermines that spirit of cooperation,” the statement read.

Critical Disruptions to Revenue Monitoring

SML warned of immediate and far-reaching consequences from the raid, stating that its systems—which support real-time petroleum monitoring, fuel volume reconciliation, and 24/7 surveillance at 26 depots—have gone offline.

The pause in operations, the company said, risks a resurgence of tax leakages, fuel diversion, and data manipulation.

It estimates that the disruption could cost the state over GH¢348 million in monthly revenue losses.

SML also raised concerns over the security of its intellectual property, which it said was developed with private capital and is now vulnerable to misuse.

The company highlighted that from May 2020 to December 2024, its systems helped recover more than GH¢20 billion in additional tax revenue and achieved a 92% reduction in discrepancies between GRA and National Petroleum Authority (NPA) figures.

Call for Institutional Dialogue

In light of the developments, SML has appealed to the GRA, Ministry of Finance, and other relevant institutions to urgently intervene.

The company is demanding the reinstatement of its systems, protection of sensitive data, and a renewed commitment to procedural fairness.

“The forceful dismantling of the nation’s only independent, real-time petroleum monitoring system risks eroding years of progress,” the company warned, describing the raid as a setback to Ghana’s digital governance efforts.

Despite the disruption, SML reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ghana’s development through innovation, transparency, and public-private collaboration.

“This is not a moment for division, but for dialogue,” the statement concluded.