Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) has reiterated that its revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) went through proper procedures.

SML emphasised that there was nothing irregular in the awarding of the contract and urged Ghanaians to disregard any contrary reports.

According to the company, it operates within the confines of the law and is committed to fulfilling its duties and responsibilities legally, without engaging in any illegal activities.

• Read also: Our services are one of a kind, not done by NPA – SML insists

Serwaa Sarpong, who leads Support Management at SML, emphasised during an interview on JoyNews' Newsfile program on Saturday, April 27, that the company's efforts in generating revenue for the state deserve recognition.

She stressed that even the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), which some people claim could perform SML's functions, endorsed SML's entry into the downstream sector.

Ms Sarpong maintained that SML has not received any improper payments, as it financed the contract upfront and is compensated based on performance.

She further added that SML operates ethically and is committed to its role in enhancing revenue collection for the government.

• Read also: KPMG report exonerates us – SML

"The documentary says that there is duplication of work, there is duplication of work that the NPA is already doing, but that is lack of understanding of domain knowledge because I have proven here and I’ll give evidence that the NPA endorsed the coming into the downstream by SML and that must be noted because SML is doing a fantastic job and we are adding benefits to the revenue generation in the downstream petroleum."

"The GRA awarded the 2023 consolidated contract to SML following due processes because SML is a legal company and practices best practices in its work."

"We are ethical and we will not do anything that amounts to misconduct. The whole contract is a risk reward contract thus SML bears the financial costs of the contract and government has not given SML a pesewa and everything that we have done has been paid for my SML and the payments that we have received are performance based," Ms Sarpong said.

KPMG, a reputable auditing firm, has completed and submitted its report on the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) to President Akufo-Addo.

The audit was initiated by the President on January 2, 2024, following an expose by the Fourth Estate.

Originally set to be completed by January 16, 2024, the deadline was extended to February 23, 2024, due to certain circumstances.

According to the audit findings, SML has received a total of GH¢1,061,054,778 since 2018 while only partially fulfilling its obligations under the contract.

However, SML has challenged this finding, asserting that the report as a whole justifies the contract.