A call has been made for a balanced discussion on the KPMG audit report concerning the deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).
Professor Ransford Gyampo of the University of Ghana emphasized the importance of approaching the discussions in a manner that does not discourage private investors from investing in the country. He also advocated for the release of the report on the condition that Ghanaians will read it and have a balanced view of the matter.
Lawmaker Kwame Andy Appiah-Kubi of Asante Akim North echoed similar sentiments, stating that any procurement default in the contract should not be blamed on the private investor but on the state for neglecting their duty to investigate the proposals. Furthermore, he highlighted the need for informed discussions on the KPMG report to understand the intricacies of the deal.
The KPMG report revealed that no technical needs assessment was done prior to engaging SML, although it was not legally required. It also highlighted procurement breaches and lack of parliamentary approval for multi-year contracts. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo acted on the report’s findings and issued directives to terminate certain services provided by SML and conduct a comprehensive needs assessment for others.
