SML contracts breached law and common sense

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has raised serious concerns over the controversial contracts which were awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), alleging multiple breaches of the law and lapses in common sense by those behind the agreements.

The revelations come in the wake of broader investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into SML contracts across the mining and petroleum sectors.

The OSP has reportedly uncovered alleged corruption, procurement breaches, and abuse of office in the award and execution of the agreements. Legal proceedings are expected to begin before the end of November 2025.

President John Dramani Mahama has since directed the immediate termination of all contracts between the Government of Ghana and SML following the OSP investigation. The directive was communicated in a letter from the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, instructing the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to end all existing agreements with SML without delay.

Speaking on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, November 1, the investigative journalist noted that “there were many violations of the law, many breaches of common sense and it appeared people who were behind this deal did not act in the interest of the state.”

According to Manasseh, SML was allowed to provide auditing and accountancy services without the necessary licence from the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana.

“Their act says that to provide services of auditing and accountancy you should be licensed by the Institute. If you fail to obtain a licence, you could be fined, jailed, or both. We asked if SML had the licence to perform these works, and their response was no,” he stated.

He added that SML’s single-source procurement requests had been denied three times by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) due to the company’s lack of experience and capacity to deliver on the contracts.

“These contracts were approved despite clear evidence that SML did not have the competence or legal standing to provide the services. It appeared that those behind the deal did not act in the interest of the state,” Manasseh said.

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