Mr. Azure, your commentary appears to reflect dissatisfaction with a successful criminal investigation that has already led to the filing of 78 criminal charges and the cancellation of the SML contracts by the President’s action, as a result of the OSP’s findings, leading to savings in billions. That is the significant outcome, and it is this achievement that should be allowed to sink in while the OSP focuses on successfully prosecuting the case.
Instead, your focus seems stuck on the circumstances surrounding Mr. Ofori-Atta’s departure from Ghana. Yet, in so doing, the entire basis of your suppositions and conclusions are far from accurate. You seem to robe the OSP with powers it does not possess. May be you should advocate for the clothing of the OSP with the powers you suppose it possesses. First, the OSP does not control the airports. The points of entry and exit are firmly within the control of the Executive through its police, immigration, customs, and military powers. These powers enforce travel stop orders for the OSP. Therefore, where a person like Mr. Ofori-Atta embarks on travel with clearance from the Presidency, it is laughable to suggest that the powers that control the airports would ignore the Presidential clearance and enforce a stop order by the OSP over the Presidential clearance.
And that is why the Special Prosecutor has stated firmly that it was pointless for the OSP to have sent in a Travel Stop against Mr. Ofori-Atta at the time of his depature from Ghana since he had clerance to travel from the top for medical reasons. For good measure, the President at the time in question was his cousin. It would have served no purpose. So you may kindly advocate that the OSP should be given powers to override the Commander-in-Chief of the authorities in respect of such matters.
It is also highly perplexing that your entire thesis of so-called evidence that the OSP commenced the SML investigation is based on your interaction with a middle-level officer of the OSP and not the lead investigator or the Special Prosecutor whose lines you have direct access to. The middle level officer you interacted with would certainly not be in a position to apprise you of the whole state of the investigations as that is the preserve of the lead investigator and the Special Prosecutor. And this you know very well. Had you approached this matter in good faith, your actions would have been different.
May you be reminded once more, that as one of many witnesses that may be called in this matter, caution is advised in public commentary.
By contrast, the OSP has consistently kept Ghanaians informed through its statutory half-yearly reports since December 2023. The following sections reproduce, directly from these reports, the official updates on the SML investigations. We trust this will provide clarity and encourage a focus on accountability rather than attempts to advance inaccurate points.
The chronology of official publications referencing SML begins below:
Section: D. Ongoing Investigations – 28 December 2023
Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited / Ghana Revenue Authority
The OSP commenced a preliminary investigation into contractual arrangements between SML and GRA relating to revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals resources value chain. This action followed a complaint filed on 18 December 2023 by The Fourth Estate (a Media Foundation for West Africa project), represented by journalists Evans Aziamor-Mensah, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Manasseh Azure Awuni. The petition alleged possible acts of corruption, including breaches of the Public Procurement Act.
Half-Yearly Report – 11 July 2024
Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited / Ghana Revenue Authority
The OSP confirmed that, on 19 December 2023, it formally commenced an investigation into SML–GRA contractual arrangements, based on the complaint from The Fourth Estate journalists. On 29 December 2023, the President appointed KPMG to audit the contracts and related transactions between SML and GRA, focusing on procurement propriety, contracting processes, and cost–value analysis. KPMG submitted its audit findings to the President on 27 March 2024. The OSP incorporated the audit outcome into its ongoing investigations.
Half-Yearly Report – 31 December 2024
Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited / Ghana Revenue Authority
Following the preliminary investigation initiated on 19 December 2023 and a comprehensive review of the KPMG audit report (dated 27 March 2024), the OSP commenced a full investigation into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences involving the SML–GRA contractual arrangements.
Half-Yearly Report – July 2025
Section: C. Concluded Investigations
Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited / Ghana Revenue Authority
The OSP announced the conclusion of investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences concerning SML and GRA. The investigation covered the company’s contractual role in enhancing revenue assurance across the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the minerals and metals resources value chain. The Special Prosecutor indicated that directives and further actions would be issued in due course. Subsequently, parts of the investigation was re-opened and was concluded on 3 October 2025.
If you insist that the OSP commenced the SML investigation in 2025 then you should rather hold the OSP in high regard for having conducted and concluded such a complex investigation in record time – just a little over 9 months.
If your petition was filed in good faith and not borne of glory-hunting, you should praise the efforts of the OSP and not engage in after the fact undermining of the Office.
