The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has called on President John Dramani Mahama to immediately terminate the remaining contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
The IEAG making the appeal at a press conference, indicated that “This is not just a procurement issue; it is about justice, governance, and the credibility of our nation in the eyes of the Ghanaian people and the international community.”
Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit, Executive Secretary of the IEAG, addressing the media, said the core issue had to do with a contract that continues to bleed the nation.”
Mr. Awingobit added that despite a presidential directive issued in April 2024 suspending SML’s upstream petroleum and mineral resources contract due to serious concerns raised in the Fourth Estate’s investigative reports and a subsequent KPMG audit, they have verifiable information that SML continues to be paid over $1.43 million every month under the downstream petroleum contract.
“At a time when government is doing its best to address financial waste and stabilise the country’s economy, SML is being paid over $1.4 million every month, money that could build schools, hospitals, roads, or reduce the cost of doing business,” he alleged.
He added that the function SML claims to be performing for the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), which monitors fuel volumes, is already being done by the NPA’s systems.
According to the IEAG, the NPA monitors its oil volumes through a digital retail fuel monitoring system and a bulk road vehicle tracking system, which allows the authority to monitor fuel levels at retail outlets and track the distribution of petroleum products to prevent illicit activities and ensure accurate revenue calculation.
“So, the question must be asked: Why are we paying a private company to duplicate an existing service? Who benefits from this redundancy? Who is protecting SML, and why?”
The IEAG recalled that in December 2023, the Fourth Estate revealed that SML was awarded its multi-million-dollar contract without a competitive process, as it alleged that it had no prior expertise in revenue assurance, among other issues.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, then following national backlash, appointed KPMG to investigate the matter.
The KPMG audit validated many of the concerns raised by civil society, the media, and industry players, and based on that, the then president suspended part of the contract in April 2024.
The association noted that four months in office was ample time for President Mahama to review and cancel the contract, stressing that the SML downstream petroleum contract should immediately be terminated.
“Recover all monies paid for services deemed redundant, unverified, or unsupported by performance data; blacklist SML and investigate all current and former officials involved in the contract; and legislate reforms to prohibit sole-sourced contracts in public revenue assurance, with mandatory parliamentary oversight.”
IEAG also called on Parliament, civil society, the Auditor-General, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the diplomatic community, and all patriotic citizens to support its call for truth, justice, and fiscal responsibility.
GNA
