The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has initiated arrests and investigations into several high-ranking former officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), in connection with suspected corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the SML deal. Among those arrested and detained yesterday were Reverend Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, a former Commissioner-General of the GRA; Isaac Crentsil, a former Commissioner of Customs and current General Manager at SML; and Christian Tetteh Sottie, a former Technical Advisor at GRA who now serves as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of SML. These individuals, along with others, were detained after failing to meet bail conditions.

The dragnet extended to other key figures, including Kofi Nti, another former Commissioner-General of the GRA; Philip Mensah, former Deputy Commissioner of Legal at GRA and now Legal Consultant to SML; Evans Adusei, CEO and Founder of SML; and Joseph Kuruk and Faustina Adjorkor, both staff of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA). The arrests are part of comprehensive ongoing investigations by the OSP into alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses concerning multi-million cedi contracts awarded to SML for revenue assurance services across the downstream petroleum, gold export, and port sectors.

The OSP's probe is meticulously examining the procurement processes, the specific scope of services rendered, and the justification for the substantial payments made under these contracts. A significant aspect of the investigation involves verifying SML’s claims that its operations have resulted in significant revenue savings for the nation. As part of these efforts, the OSP conducted a search at SML’s offices, retrieving relevant information under a lawful search warrant. OSP officials confirmed that no property was destroyed during the search, only items pertinent to the investigation were seized and inventoried.

These arrests follow a period of intense public scrutiny over SML’s contracts with the GRA, with critics, civil society organizations, and anti-corruption campaigners raising serious concerns regarding value for money and the propriety of the procurement process. Amidst this, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned KPMG in December 2023 to undertake an inquiry into the controversial matters. Although initially denying a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) for the report under the Right to Information Act, citing exemptions, the President later directed the full publication of the KPMG report in May 2024, citing the interest of full transparency in governance and public honesty.

The OSP has highlighted that these investigations into the SML issues represent a significant moment in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts. This action suggests a renewed and determined resolve by the Office of the Special Prosecutor to confront and address high-level corruption within public financial management, ensuring accountability for alleged financial misconduct.