SML Trial: Colonel Damoah Pleads Not Guilty, Granted GH¢50m Bail
The High Court in Accra has granted bail to Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd), former Commissioner-General of Customs and MP for Jaman South, in the ongoing criminal case brought by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over the controversial revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).
Colonel Damoah, the sixth accused in the case, pleaded not guilty to 10 charges against him on December 17, 2025.
He was admitted to bail in the sum of GH¢50 million, with two sureties, each to be justified. Additional conditions attached to the bail include the deposit of his passport and all travel documents at the court registry, placement on the Ghana Immigration Service stop list at all ports of entry, submission of copies of Ghana Cards and valid identification by sureties, and weekly reporting to the lead investigator in the case.
However, the court ordered that the enforcement of these bail conditions be suspended until December 31, 2025, to give Colonel Damoah sufficient time to secure sureties and fully comply with the requirements. Until that date, he remains subject to the bail conditions previously imposed by the OSP.
The prosecution did not oppose the grant of bail but objected to the defence’s request for additional time to meet the bail conditions, arguing that the court session provided ample time for compliance. Despite the objection, the court exercised its discretion to suspend enforcement of the bail terms.
Colonel Damoah is among those charged alongside former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta with substantive and conspiracy counts, including causing financial loss to the state and using public office for profit. The charges relate to a revenue assurance deal between GRA and SML, which allegedly caused the state a loss of over GH¢1.4 billion.
The case has been adjourned to January 29, 2026, for further proceedings.
