A former presidential staffer in the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration has questioned President Akufo-Addo regarding the sudden release of the KPMG audit report on the controversial Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract.

The former staffer suggested that this action by President Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not a newfound commitment to transparency or accountability to Ghanaians. 

Instead, he believes a significant trigger prompted the release of the report and urged the presidency to clarify the reason behind this move.

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

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 22, he asserted that the deal in question is riddled with corruption and was orchestrated to benefit some cronies of the government.

He called for greater transparency and accountability from the presidency regarding the circumstances surrounding the release of the audit report.

"What was it that triggered the fastest U-turn by President Akufo-Addo ever to release the KPMG's damaging report on the corrupt SML transaction, which they used all kinds of legal gymnastics to earlier justify while whitewashing the KPMG's work and recommendations?" 

"From my experience and working knowledge, this action is not because Akufo-Addo and the NPP have suddenly embraced transparency or want to be accountable."

"There is a HUGE trigger, and whatever it is, we thank God it has pushed him to the wall. SML simply stinks, and it is clear from what Ghanaians even knew before the KPMG work and report that it was a transaction to milk the country of its tax revenue for personal, political party, and campaign (2020 and 2024) benefit. Is it any wonder the GRA will look the other way and let SML keep VAT in excess of GH¢ 13m?"

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 waived his right under RTI Act to release KPMG report – Eugene Arhin

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.