Akufo-Addo’s management of the GRA/SML agreement is an indication of transparency and good governance

Alexander Afenyo-Markin is the majority leader and MP for Effutu

The majority caucus in Parliament has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his handling of the controversy surrounding the revenue guarantee contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML).

Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Thursday, May 3, 2024, Majority Leader Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin indicated that the actions taken by President Akufo-Addo since corruption allegations were made regarding the deal are a sign of responsibility, as reported by 3news.com. .

He said the investigation into KPMG’s SML contract, ordered by President Akufo-Addo, showed that no crime had been committed.

The Majority Leader, who is the Member of Parliament for Effutu, stated that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and civil society organisations, who are calling for the repeal of the SML contract, are only jeopardizing the existence of a company Ghanaian.

“Many times, under the guise of due diligence, under the guise of transparency, we go out of control and destroy Ghanaian companies, while foreign companies operating in certain sectors get the kind of protection that allows them to develop their businesses. “. he said.

On calls for KPMG’s report on the SML deal to be published, the MP said: “Just as it is written in law that, for the sake of transparency and good governance, public documents must be made public and members of the public have the right to receive it, it is also a writing of good faith from the president.”

Background:

President Akufo-Addo, in a press statement released by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, instructed the GRA and the Ministry of Finance to renegotiate the SML contract.

The president emphasized that the renegotiation must be closely monitored and periodically evaluated to ensure that it meets expectations.

“There is a clear need for the oil audit services provided by SML. GRA and the State have benefited from these services since SML began providing them. There has been an increase in volumes of 1.7 billion liters and an increase in tax revenue for KPMG also noted that there were qualitative benefits, including 24/7 real-time electronic monitoring of outputs and partial monitoring of inputs of petroleum products into warehouses where SML had installed flow meters and six levels of reconciliation carried out by SML.

“This minimizes the occurrence of under-declarations. However, it is important to review the contract for petroleum audit services, in particular the fee structure. Given SML’s experience and competence over the last four years in providing this service , the President has ordered that the fee structure be changed from a variable to a fixed fee structure. Other provisions of the contract worth reviewing include clauses on intellectual property rights, termination and service delivery expectations,” he wrote.

The decision to renegotiate the contract follows the chairman’s acceptance of KPMG’s recommendation following its audit of the deal.

The audit findings generated the need for a review of the income guarantee contract, highlighting areas where improvements are necessary to improve its effectiveness.

On January 2, 2024, President Nana Akufo-Addo commissioned KPMG to investigate the contract between SML and GRA, prompted by a complaint by media outlet Cuarto Poder.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has since received the KPMG audit report on the revenue mobilization contract between GRA and SML.

The report was delivered to him on Wednesday, March 27, as Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications for the Presidency, announced in a Facebook post on Wednesday, April 3.

BAI/NOQ

Watch the latest episode of Everyday People below:

Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, together with the Korle-Bu University Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign aimed at ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, donation and transplantation in the country.