The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has intensified its investigation into the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract by detaining three former senior figures of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), signalling a major escalation in the high-profile corruption probe.
Among those currently in custody is the immediate past Commissioner-General of GRA, Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah. He is joined by Dr. Isaac Crentsil and Christian Tetteh Sottie, both former top officials of the Authority, as investigators delve deeper into the nature and impact of revenue assurance contracts signed with SML.
The detentions form part of a broader inquiry into alleged corruption and financial irregularities tied to the GRA-SML agreements.
These contracts, signed ostensibly to boost revenue protection and mobilisation, have come under increasing public scrutiny for lacking transparency and possibly inflating service benefits.
The arrests mark a pivotal moment in the unfolding scandal, with legal and political analysts suggesting that the case could have far-reaching consequences for public procurement oversight and accountability in Ghana’s revenue administration.
Civil society groups and anti-corruption campaigners have welcomed the OSP’s decisive action, calling it a necessary step toward restoring public confidence in state institutions. “This is not just about individuals; it’s about the integrity of our revenue systems and the need to ensure that contracts awarded with public funds meet legal and ethical standards,” said one governance expert.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the government to fully disclose the details of the GRA-SML agreement, including the procurement process, scope of services, and payment structure. Critics argue that without full transparency, the true extent of potential financial losses to the state may never be known.
SML Ghana, the private company at the centre of the controversy, has consistently defended its role, insisting that it has added significant value to Ghana’s revenue collection efforts—particularly in the downstream petroleum sector.
However, the OSP’s ongoing inquiry aims to independently verify those claims and determine whether value-for-money principles were upheld.
As the investigation widens, legal experts predict that additional arrests or prosecutions could follow if evidence of wrongdoing emerges. For now, the detainment of these former GRA officials signals that no one is above scrutiny, and that the state is ready to pursue accountability at the highest levels.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has not yet disclosed the specific charges being considered, but confirmed that the suspects are assisting with investigations. More updates are expected in the coming days as the case progresses.
