Former Tamale Central MP Inusah Fuseini says that President Akufo-Addo has whitewashed the KPMG report regarding its findings on the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

The lawyer criticised the President for being embroiled in over a hundred scandals since taking office.

According to him, President Akufo-Addo has become incredibly predictable in how he handles matters concerning the behaviour and conduct of his appointees, particularly when they involve criminal activities.

Speaking on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, April 27, Mr Fuseini said that when President Akufo-Addo appointed KPMG to analyse and investigate the contract awarded to SML, many people raised suspicions due to the potential conflict of interest situation involving KPMG.

He alleged that the President has whitewashed the KPMG report, as was anticipated when he appointed KPMG to audit the contract.

"He has the redacted portions. But what prevents the president from releasing the entire report? Are we not entitled to open, transparent, and accountable leadership in this country?" he questioned.

"Clearly, it should leave you in no doubt that institutions established to serve the public, when they are captured by powerful private interests, manifest themselves in contracts of that nature - contracts that flagrantly violate the laws of the country," Mr Fuseini continued.

"It leaves you in no doubt that there must be something compelling enough to motivate a minister to ignore all the safeguards in our laws which would ensure that we have value for money for contracts entered into with companies."

He noted that the contract should have been brought to Parliament for approval but that was not done, stating that "Section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act, the contract was supposed to approved by the GRA board."

His comment comes after President Akufo-Addo accepted KPMG's recommendation to terminate the upstream petroleum and minerals audit service provided to GRA by SML.

In a five-page press release on Wednesday, April 24, the President said, "The upstream petroleum audit and minerals audit services have not yet been commenced, and no payments have been made in respect of those services; therefore, they may be terminated.

Read also: Akufo-Addo accepts KPMG’s advice to end upstream petroleum and minerals audit service provided to GRA by SML

"However, given that the upstream petroleum and minerals audit services could prevent significant revenue leakages, the President has directed that the Ministry and GRA conduct a comprehensive technical needs assessment, value-for-money assessment, and stakeholder engagements before implementing such services.

Also to be terminated is "The transaction audit and external price verification services may be terminated."

On the back of this, the President is yet to make public the full report by KPMG on its findings regarding the SML contract despite calls to release the report.