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The Minority is advocating for a comprehensive investigation into a government contract with Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) to prevent significant financial losses in Ghana’s petroleum sector.
A report by the Fourth Estate raised questions about the contract’s validity, with Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta expanding it and estimating a potential cost of $100 million to the state over the next decade.
Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy and a member of the Finance Committee, John Jinapor asserts that the deal should be promptly suspended while awaiting a parliamentary probe.
“While the contract between the government of Ghana led by the Ministry of Finance, SML limited to undertake some so-called assurance, revenue assurance and so first of all let me commend the fourth estate, Manasseh, and the media house who conducted these investigations. Indeed the minority has discussed these topical issues and we will be moving processes in parliament to ensure that there is a full-scale investigation. We do not believe that there is value for money”.
Mr. Jinapor expressed that the contract benefits corrupt politicians and individuals.
He disclosed that the Mines and Energy Commission visited MPA a couple of weeks ago. According to him, MPA claimed to have implemented sufficient systems, mechanisms, and infrastructure to prevent loopholes and losses.
“Even more importantly it turns out that the so-called 3 billion cedis was a hoax. We cannot allow the taxpayer to be burdened with such unnecessary contracts that only go a long way to fill the pockets of individuals. And so we would advise that immediately that contract is suspended pending the parliamentary investigation. And we go into and find out that indeed all those allegations are true. We would ensure that the contract is abrogated because it does not serve the interest of this republic.
Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor has been petitioned to probe the Finance Ministry, The Ghana Revenue Authority and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited over the questionable $1 billion contract for revenue assurance in the petroleum downstream, upstream, and gold mining sectors.
The Editor-in-Chief of The Fourth Estate, Manasseh Azure Awuni who filed the petition explained that the OSP had assured that something would be done about it.
According to him, the petition is to investigate the deal for corruption and possible breach of procurement law.
