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Rev. Dr Ammishaddai, 7 others behind bars for role in shady GRA-SML deal
Rev. Dr Ammishaddai, 7 others behind bars for role in shady GRA-SML deal
By: Nii Ammui Fio | 3 mins read
Eight individuals, including high-ranking former officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and executives of Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), have been detained by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over their alleged involvement in a corruption-laden revenue assurance contract between GRA and SML.
Among those arrested are Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the former Commissioner-General of the GRA; Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of Customs and now General Manager at SML; and Christian Tetteh Sottie, former Technical Advisor turned CEO of SML. The trio, along with five others, were taken into custody after failing to meet bail conditions.
The OSP’s investigation is probing suspected corruption and related offences tied to multiple contracts signed between the GRA and SML. The contracts, initially intended to enhance revenue assurance across key economic sectors—such as petroleum and mining—are now under scrutiny for alleged irregularities.
The list of those arrested also includes Evans Adusei, CEO of SML; Philip Mensah, a former Deputy Commissioner of Legal Affairs at GRA now serving as a legal consultant to SML; Joseph Kuruk and Faustina Adjorkor, both officials from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA); and Kofi Nti, a former Commissioner-General of GRA.
This sweeping probe follows years of public suspicion and investigative reporting led by journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. His exposés revealed major breaches in the agreement between GRA and SML, triggering a formal audit by international consultancy KPMG under the directive of then-President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The KPMG report revealed that GRA entered into six separate agreements with SML from June 2018 to July 2020, all through a single-source procurement process—without approval from the PPA or oversight from Parliament. The contracts covered services such as transaction auditing, price verification, and downstream petroleum measurement.
Crucially, the audit also found that SML had defaulted on its tax obligations. Between September 2020 and April 2021, the company received bulk payments totaling over GHC13.38 million without deductions for VAT and withholding tax—deviating from GRA’s own tax compliance norms. As of January 31, 2024, SML's total liability to the state stood at GHC31.88 million, factoring in accrued interest.
The controversy intensified when Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam Nartey George, pointed fingers at former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, accusing him of playing a central role in what he described as a grand scheme to siphon state funds.
“The SML or SMEL deal is a clear example of what Justice Dotse described as a create, loot and share,” George said.“One thing Ghanaians must bear in mind is that all of these happened with the tacit approval of the then Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta. As usual, he is trying to run under the radar and people are failing to realise the key cardinal role he played in this entire arrangement,” he added on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on May 25.
In a twist, SML sued Manasseh Azure Awuni earlier this year, seeking GHC21 million in damages for allegedly defamatory statements. The company claimed that Manasseh’s reference to the agreement as “the biggest scam” and “the SML scandal” had damaged its reputation. It is demanding a public apology, a perpetual injunction, and a retraction of statements made in Chapter 28 of Manasseh’s book.
Meanwhile, the OSP has declared Ken Ofori-Atta wanted for his alleged involvement in causing financial loss to the state—one of the many developments arising from this deepening scandal.
As the probe widens, public interest continues to grow in what is shaping up to be one of Ghana’s most consequential corruption cases in recent memory.
