President John Mahama has issued a directive for the immediate termination of all contracts with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). This significant order follows the conclusion of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into the controversial agreements. The decision, communicated through a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

The contracts had been under intense scrutiny for months, becoming the subject of a rigorous probe into alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses, as well as procurement irregularities. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, addressing the media on Thursday, October 30, described the SML agreement as a "deliberately crafted arrangement" designed to benefit a select few individuals, ultimately resulting in substantial financial losses to the state. The OSP's investigation revealed that SML’s role in the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) revenue assurance operations was deemed unnecessary and was founded on "unverified and misleading claims."

As a direct consequence of these findings, SML has been ordered to refund ₵125 million, identified as unjust enrichment due to funds improperly received from the state. Furthermore, it was noted that the GRA had proactively halted payments to the company in December 2024, while the investigations were still underway. The Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has been specifically tasked with ensuring that the contract termination process is executed swiftly and adheres strictly to all existing financial and legal procedures.

This development also coincides with the Special Prosecutor's announcement that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and six other individuals will face charges for corruption and related offenses before the end of November 2025. The list of those to be charged includes Mr. Ofori-Atta, his former chief of staff Ernest Akore, two former Commissioners-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority, a former Customs Commissioner who is currently a Member of Parliament, and SML’s General Manager.

The SML contract was initially conceived with the objective of improving revenue collection within the petroleum downstream sector. However, it subsequently garnered widespread criticism over allegations of inflated payments and operational inefficiency, leading to insistent calls for its cancellation, which have now been acted upon by the presidency.