Bright Simons lists 5 bombshell revelations in KPMG report on GRA-SML deal

IMANI Africa Vice President, Bright Simons, has reacted to the recently released KPMG audit report into the now controversial contracts and transactions deal between Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).

The over 300-page report was released on May 22, 2024, weeks after the presidency had opted against releasing it citing provisions of the Right To Information (RTI) law.

Simons, who has publicly spoken about the need for the full report to be released noted major findings that made the deal even worse than had been earlier reported based on the documentary that first reported on the matter.

In a series of posts on X, Simons listed bombshell findings from his initial analysis of the report.

“The famous KPMG report on SML is finally released. As suspected, Ghana’s Prez’s earlier summary has major gaps,” he noted before listing the bombshells.

a. SML received close to 1.5 Billion cedis in payments not 1 Billion per the presidency.

b. KPMG saw the impact of taxes on increasing revenue. Clearly, that wasn’t SML’s work.

c. SML’s magical flowmeters never worked as specified throughout anyway.

d. SML refused to pay taxes on its fees from GRA.

e. Ministry of Finance deliberately refused to do Value for Money evaluation

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo caused to be released an over 300-page audit report on contracts and transactions between Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).

After an initial decision to not release the full audit report by KPMG, the presidency announced in a statement dated May 22 that the report had been released despite Right To Information (RTI) exemptions raised earlier.

“The President, in the interest of full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public, has decided to waive the privilege under section 5 of the RTI Act and has directed the publication of the KPMG report in full,” the statement signed by Communications Director, Eugene Arhin read in part.

On 24th April 2024, Akufo-Addo, received a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) (RTI Act), for a copy of the KPMG report.

The President had commissioned KPMG, on 29th December, 2023, to undertake an inquiry to gain a clear understanding of the matters in controversy, and to be properly advised in taking the necessary decisions.

In justifying the earlier refusal to release the report, the presidency said the KPMG report comprised opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are integral to the President’s deliberative process and, therefore, qualifies as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act.

At the time, a detailed press statement outlining KPMG’s findings and recommendations, as well as the president’s directives to the Ministry of Finance and GRA; was published.