GRA-SML deal: We must jail Ofori-Atta, all SML officials – Martin Kpebu

Lawyer Martin Kpebu

Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Martin Kpebu has called for the prosecution of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta for his role in the deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ltd (SML).

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, May 22, directed the publication of the full report of the audit done by KPMG on the deal and transactions between GRA and SML.

In the report, it was revealed that GRA signed six agreements with SML without approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

It also disclosed that the state paid SML GHS1.4 billion.

Speaking to Joy News, Lawyer Martin Kpebu accused former Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of causing financial loss to the state for his involvement in the deal between GRA and SML.

According to him, the former Finance Minister must be prosecuted alongside officials of SML.

“We ask for termination of the contract which is very clear actually and then prosecution of SML officials and the Minister of Finance and his people. Ofori-Atta and his people [should be prosecuted] for causing financial loss to the state because I have seen parts of the [audit] report that state that SML didn’t deliver so we need to quantify how much we lost and hold Ofori-Atta and the other officials involved for this loss,” Martin Kpebu said.

The private legal practitioner and anti-corruption campaigner continued, “And also let’s not forget that we need to terminate this agreement because in law when an agreement is void the Supreme Court makes it clear that public agencies shouldn’t pay any money.”