GRA-SML deal: 'Consider bigger picture when criticizing the transaction' - Richard Ahiagbah to NDC

The Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has urged the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to consider the bigger picture when criticizing the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Strategic Revenue Mobilisation (SML).

Ahiagbah emphasized that one of the government's primary roles is to ensure national defense, provide essential public services, and promote economic stability.

He explained that these responsibilities require funding.

He added that criticizing the focus on revenue assurance with SML in the downstream petroleum sector "from a narrow legal perspective limits the government's impact on citizens' lives."

The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, strongly raised concerns about the agreement. Gyamfi stated at a press conference, "We in the NDC are appalled but not surprised by the corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government's decision to allow SML to continue performing their illegally-procured downstream petroleum audit services, while only recommending the termination of other unlawful contracts. This is the most egregious abetment of crime by the ruling New Patriotic Party, and reinforces our suspicions that this scandal was orchestrated at the highest levels of power."

In a post via his X platform, Richard Ahiagbah said, "The NDC must consider the bigger picture when criticizing the SML downstream audit contract. One of the primary roles of the government is to ensure national defense, provide essential public services, and promote economic stability. These responsibilities require funding. Criticizing the focus on revenue assurance with SML in the downstream petroleum sector from a narrow legal perspective limits the government's impact on citizens' lives.

"It is important to note that SML's involvement in the downstream sector has generated GH¢2.45 billion in state revenue, according to the KPMG report. This aligns with the findings from the audit report by Ernst & Young commissioned by GRA, the Revenue Assurance and Compliance Unit of the Ministry of Finance, and the industry report by the Chamber of Bulk Oils Distributors," he added.

The NDC must consider the bigger picture in criticizing the SML downstream audit contract.

One of the primary roles of the government is to ensure national defense, provide essential public services, and promote economic stability. These responsibilities require funding.…

— Richard Ahiagbah (@RAahiagbah) May 24, 2024

After an initial decision to not release the full audit report by KPMG, the Office of the President announced in a statement dated May 22 that the report had been released despite Right To Information (RTI) exemptions raised earlier.

On April 24, 2024, President Akufo-Addo, received a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) (RTI Act), for a copy of the KPMG report.

The President had commissioned KPMG, on December 29, 2023, to undertake an inquiry to gain a clear understanding of the matters in controversy, and to be properly advised in taking the necessary decisions.

In justifying the earlier refusal to release the report, the presidency said the KPMG report comprised opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are integral to the President’s deliberative process and, therefore, qualifies as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act.

At the time, a detailed press statement outlining KPMG’s findings and recommendations, as well as the president's directives to the Ministry of Finance and GRA was published.