The Minority faction in Ghana’s Parliament is ramping up pressure on President Nana Akufo-Addo concerning the delayed publication of an audit report by KPMG. This report pertains to a contentious revenue mobilization contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML), which has stirred considerable controversy and allegations of irregularities.
Led by the Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the opposition lawmakers accuse the President of deliberately stalling the process to potentially cover up what they term as a “dubious” agreement. Dr. Forson firmly stated the opposition’s stance against any attempts to obscure the details of the contract and emphasized their commitment to ensuring a thorough parliamentary investigation into the affair.
This declaration comes in the wake of President Akufo-Addo’s State of the Nation address, where he provided updates on various national issues but, according to the opposition, fell short of addressing the growing concerns surrounding the SML contract. Dr. Forson criticized the President for taking over the parliamentary investigation and then delaying the report’s release, which has now extended well beyond the initially promised timeframe.
The contract in question, awarded to SML by the GRA, has been under scrutiny following a report by the Fourth Estate, which highlighted several alleged irregularities in the multi-million dollar deal. Both the GRA and SML have denied any impropriety, with SML further responding to the allegations by filing a defamation lawsuit against the Fourth Estate.
The Minority’s insistence on a parliamentary inquiry underscores the deepening rift over transparency and accountability in government contracts. As the standoff between the opposition and the presidency continues, the call for the KPMG audit report’s publication grows louder, marking a significant point of contention in Ghanaian politics. The Minority’s actions reflect a broader demand for clarity and openness in public dealings, particularly in contracts involving significant public resources.
