Manasseh Azure (R) has again linked Ken Ofori-Atta’s expanded role in GRA-SML contracts
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has again linked former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contracts, which have come under scrutiny.
In a post shared on his social media pages on November 2, 2025, Manasseh released a document dated June 22, 2023, signed by Ernest Akore, then a technical advisor at the Ministry of Finance.
The letter, he said, was written on behalf of Ken Ofori-Atta while he was still the Finance Minister.
OSP probe saves Ghana GH¢1.25 billion from SML deal
The document stated that, “The Honorable Minister has determined that there is a need to monitor the production and shipment of oil and gold out of the country.”
It further noted, “To this end, he will like to expand the scope of the Revenue Assurance work being performed by SML to include upstream oil drilling by the oil production companies and the gold mining companies.”
The letter also indicated that the Ministry of Finance’s Legal Department had already reviewed the revised contract.
However, since the original contract had been signed by the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on behalf of the government, “there is a need for GRA to also review and opine on the expanded contract before signing,” it read.
According to Manasseh, this letter is a critical piece of evidence showing that Ken Ofori-Atta initiated the expansion of SML’s operations into Ghana’s mining and petroleum sectors.
In his accompanying write-up, Manasseh explained that this move was made without consulting key regulatory agencies such as the Minerals Commission and the Petroleum Commission, which oversee those sectors.
“In this letter, written on his behalf by his co-fugitive, the regulatory agencies, the Minerals Commission and the Petroleum Commission, were ignored in Ken Ofori-Atta’s decision to expand SML’s services to their sectors,” Manasseh wrote.
“It was Ken’s determination. There was no need assessment to determine whether there were leakages to be stopped, for which reason SML was needed,” the journalist said.
Manasseh further disclosed that under this expanded deal, SML stood to make over $90 million annually from the mining and petroleum sectors alone.
He added that SML had secured other lucrative deals at Ghana’s ports and in the downstream petroleum sector.
According to him, all these contracts were later merged into one consolidated agreement in October 2023, following the letter issued from the Finance Ministry.
“The consolidated contract entitled SML to over $500 million for the first five years of the contract, subject to another five-year renewal,” he stated.
Manasseh noted that the expanded contract did not go into full effect because of his earlier investigative publication that exposed the details of the arrangement.
“Thankfully, the contract did not proceed due to our publication,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is preparing to press formal charges by the end of November 2025 against several individuals implicated in the SML-GRA contracts.
Those expected to face prosecution include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former GRA Commissioner-Generals Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, as well as GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa. Also listed is Ernest Akore, the former Technical Advisor at the Finance Ministry, whose name appears on the letter shared by Manasseh.
According to the OSP, its months-long investigation uncovered evidence of alleged corruption, abuse of office, and violations of procurement laws in the award and execution of the SML contracts.
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has said the evidence points to “criminal conduct” by some officials involved in the negotiations and approval processes.
Ken Ofori-Atta was very involved in the SML scandal.
In this letter, written on his behalf by his co-fugitive, the regulatory agencies–the Minerals Commission and the Petroleum Commission–were ignored in Ken Ofori-Atta‘s decision to expand SML’s services to their sectors. pic.twitter.com/Yt5NlFDIdO
— Manasseh Azure Awuni (@Manasseh_Azure) November 2, 2025
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