In a powerful call to action, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) has demanded the immediate termination of the Ghana Revenue Authority’s (GRA) downstream petroleum contract with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), citing ongoing financial hemorrhage and a lack of transparency.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra on June 4, IEAG Executive Secretary Mr. Samson Asaki Awingobit accused the government of allowing an illegitimate contract to persist despite damning findings by journalists, civil society organizations, and a presidential audit conducted by KPMG in 2024.
“This is not just a procurement issue,” Awingobit said. “It is about justice, governance, and the credibility of our nation.
A Bleeding Contract
At the center of the controversy is SML’s downstream petroleum contract, under which the company continues to receive over $1.43 million every month, even after a presidential directive suspended other parts of its engagement. The Fourth Estate’s 2023 exposé alleged that SML had no prior experience in revenue assurance and won its contract without competitive bidding. Despite these revelations, the downstream contract remains active.
“That money could build schools, hospitals, roads — or ease the burden of doing business,” Awingobit argued, questioning the need for a private company to duplicate functions already performed by the National Petroleum Authority’s own monitoring systems.
The NPA reportedly uses a Digital Retail Fuel Monitoring System and a Bulk Road Vehicle Tracking System, both of which track petroleum products in real time and ensure tax compliance.
Broken Promises?
President John Mahama, who returned to power in January 2025, had campaigned on promises to cancel the SML contract and hold all responsible parties to account. But IEAG claims the new administration is stalling.
“Talk is no longer enough,” Awingobit stated. “Four months in office is ample time to terminate a known fraudulent contract.”
IEAG is calling for transparency and action — including the publication of all payments made to SML since 2018, the recovery of redundant payments, investigations into public officials involved, and reforms to prevent sole-sourced contracts in public revenue management.
Global Eyes on Ghana
The IEAG’s statement echoes concerns expressed by major civil society groups such as IMANI Africa, the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), and the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana). International observers, including the diplomatic community and development partners, are reportedly monitoring the government’s handling of the matter closely.
The case also presents a test for Ghana’s commitments under international frameworks such as the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) — both of which emphasize transparency and public accountability.
“Do not allow this SML contract to become the first betrayal of your new mandate,” Awingobit warned President Mahama. “Prove to us that your administration is different.”
As the IEAG and other pressure groups increase public scrutiny, the government now finds itself under mounting pressure to act decisively — or risk squandering public trust.
