Claim SML was paid GHS1.4 billion misleading — Akufo-Addo’s lawyer

The widely reported figure of GHS1.4 billion paid to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML) for contracts with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is misleading, according to a lawyer for President Akufo-Addo.

Kow Essuman, the president's legal counsel, wrote in a post on X on Thursday, May 23, that the KPMG audit report into the controversial SML contracts does not state that SML received GHS1.4 billion as has been reported in some media outlets.

"Upon careful review, one will notice that the KPMG report does not state that SML received GHS 1.4 billion. On page 31, the report lists a gross amount of GHS 1.4 billion, but it also specifies the net amount paid to SML as GHS 1,061,054,778.00," Essuman stated.

He added that "A note at the bottom of page 31 explicitly clarifies that the net amount is 'net of taxes.' Therefore, the conclusion that SML was paid GHS 1.4 billion is incorrect because no business is ever paid the gross amount."

According to Essuman, corroborating evidence can be found on page 160 of the KPMG report, which includes a table listing actual payments made to SML of GHS 340,362,808.32 and GHS 720,691,969.68, totaling GHS 1,061,054,778.00.

He asserted that "This total excludes the taxes deducted and confirms the accuracy of the Presidency's statement. It is thus misleading for anyone to conclude that the Presidency stated a wrong figure as the payment made to SML."

Essuman emphasized that "It is crucial to ensure accurate information is shared during public discussions. Public advocates and media professionals must refrain from disseminating misleading information."