President Akufo-Addo has released the KPMG audit report on the controversial Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract.
This comes weeks after a section of Ghanaians including civil society organisations insisted that the many infractions in the contract demand that the full report be made public.
The President commissioned KPMG to audit the contract on January 2, 2024, with a deadline initially set for January 16, 2024, but later extended to February 23, 2024.
According to the audit findings, SML received a total of GH¢1,061,054,778.00 from 2018 to date while partially fulfilling its obligations. However, the report also noted that SML's work had contributed to an increase in revenue in the downstream petroleum sector.
Contrary to the audit report's claims, SML has disputed receiving GH¢1,061,054,778.00 for its contract with the GRA, arguing that KPMG cited the figure "without reference to the investments made and the taxes paid" during the review period.
On May 8, the Presidency declined a Right to Information (RTI) application submitted by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) seeking the full KPMG audit report.
But today, the Presidency has made a U-Turn.
In a fresh statement signed by Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, the Presidency explained that "the President, in the interest of full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public, has decided to waive the privilege under section 5 of the RTI Act and has directed the publication of the KPMG report in full."
Full statement below:
Credit: Kenneth Awotwe Darko