The Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, has praised President Akufo-Addo for releasing the KPMG audit report on the contentious contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML). 

Mr Arhin said that under Section 5 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, President Akufo-Addo had the privilege not to disclose the report but chose to waive this right.

In a press statement announcing the release, Mr Arhin emphasised that the President's decision was driven by a commitment to full transparency, openness, and honesty with the public.

"However, the President, in the interest of full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public, has decided to waive the privilege under section 5 of the RTI Act and has directed the publication of the KPMG report in full," an excerpt of the statement said.

The release of the KPMG audit report comes amid calls from Ghanaians and civil society organisations, who demanded that the findings be made public due to numerous infractions reported in the contract.

President Akufo-Addo had commissioned KPMG to audit the GRA-SML contract on January 2, 2024. 

The initial deadline for the audit was set for January 16, 2024, but it was later extended to February 23, 2024.

• Read also: GRA-SML deal: Akufo-Addo releases KPMG report

According to the audit findings, SML received a total of GH¢1,061,054,778.00 from 2018 to date while only partially fulfilling its obligations. 

However, the report also acknowledged that SML's efforts had contributed to increased revenue in the downstream petroleum sector.

Despite the audit's findings, SML has contested the reported amount, arguing that KPMG cited the figure "without reference to the investments made, and the taxes paid" during the review period. 

Initially, on May 8, the Presidency had declined a Right to Information (RTI) application from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) seeking the full KPMG audit report. 

However, in a significant reversal, the Presidency has now released the report to the public.