KPMG report on SML must be published and laid in Parliament – Adongo tells Akufo-Addo

The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, has called on President Akufo-Addo to release the KPMG audit report on the revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) without delay.
Mr Adongo urged the President to ensure that a copy of the report is laid in Parliament when the House reconvenes from recess.

He emphasised that this step would contribute to transparency in the deal and allow Parliament to conduct an independent investigation into the contract.

In a press statement issued on Friday, April 26, Mr Adongo reiterated the importance of transparency in government contracts, stating that it is crucial for accountability and public trust.

The Bolgatanga Central Member highlighted the commitment of the Minority MPs to uncovering any breaches or irregularities in the contract.

The lawmaker also affirmed that they would not allow the government to conceal any wrongdoing.

Mr Adongo assured the Ghanaian people that the Minority would continue to demand accountability from the government and remain steadfast in protecting the public purse.

He encouraged citizens to join in the effort to ensure that government contracts are executed with integrity and in the best interest of the nation.

“At this moment, I respectfully request that Parliament be furnished with a copy of the KPMG report to aid the Finance Committee’s investigation.

“It strikes me as unusual that the report only contains mild suggestions and recommendations despite the abundance of information available to the public regarding the SML arrangement.

“Consequently, we must scrutinize the comprehensiveness of their mandate, including their TOR, methodology, and approach.”

“Our primary objective is to expose the beneficial owners of this group and utilize Parliament’s authority to recover the funds that have been paid due to this illegality.

“I trust that the President understands that my Parliamentary scrutiny request is founded on section 33 of the PFM Act, which mandates that Parliament authorize contracts with multi-year obligations in the first instance.”

“For the unsuspecting public, this recent development further reinforces the belief amongst many discerning people of Ghana, that Bawumia and his associates are simply spearheading a corruption-infested digitalisation strategy steeped in delusions and shrewdness.

“Without equivocation, this government’s touted mantra of digitalisation is merely a scheme, a political propaganda of chicanery deployed to hoodwink and exploit the people of Ghana for their self-serving benefit,” an excerpt of his statement said.

KPMG, a reputable auditing firm, has completed and presented its report on the contract between GRA and SML to President Akufo-Addo.

Initiated by the President on January 2, 2024, following an expose by the Fourth Estate, the KPMG audit was originally scheduled to be concluded by Tuesday, January 16, 2024, but due to circumstances, the deadline was extended to Friday, February 23, 2024.

According to the audit findings, SML has received a total of GH¢1,061,054,778 since 2018 while fulfilling its obligations partially.

SML has challenged that finding, claiming however that the report in general justifies the contract.

Source: myjoyonline