OSP arrests Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai, two other ex-GRA officials over SML scandal

Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the immediate past Commissioner-General of the GRA

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has arrested three former officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in connection with the controversial revenue assurance contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

Those arrested are Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the immediate past Commissioner-General of the GRA; Isaac Crentsil, a former Commissioner of Customs and now General Manager at SML; and Christian Tetteh Sottie, a former Technical Advisor and now Managing Director/CEO of SML.

Their arrests are linked to ongoing investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences surrounding contracts between the GRA and SML.

The probe also seeks to verify claims by SML that its operations have helped the country save significant revenue.

In a statement shared via social media on Wednesday, June 25, the OSP disclosed that the three were detained on Tuesday after failing to meet bail conditions.

“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has arrested Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Commissioner-General of the GRA; Isaac Crentsil, ex-Commissioner of Customs and now General Manager at SML; and Christian Tetteh Sottie, former Technical Advisor and now MD/CEO of SML,” the statement said.

“The arrests are linked to ongoing investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of contracts between the GRA and SML for revenue assurance services. The probe also seeks to verify SML’s claims that its services have been saving the nation significant revenues,” it added.

Earlier this month, the OSP conducted a search at the SML office to retrieve electronic data from the company’s servers as part of the investigation.

That operation, which took place on Monday, June 10, also resulted in the arrest of three company directors.