SML Scandal: OSP summons GRA Commissioner-General and top officials

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has summoned the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Sarpong, along with two senior officials, Celestine Annan, Assistant Commissioner in charge of Finance, and Kenneth Agyei-Duah, Technical Assistant to the Commissioner-General, to appear before investigators over the controversial GRA–Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract.

The summons comes shortly after the arrest of Freeman Sarbah, Acting Head of Legal Affairs at the GRA, on Monday, November 3, 2025, for his alleged involvement in corruption and obstruction of justice linked to the same contract.

According to OSP sources, the three officials were invited after it emerged that they allegedly directed the Acting Head of Legal to issue a letter to lawyers for SML at the company’s request in mid-October. Investigators believe that correspondence could have key implications for the ongoing probe.

Sources further disclosed that this is the second time the Commissioner-General and the Assistant Commissioner for Finance have been summoned. Their earlier statements reportedly contradict the contents of the letter they are alleged to have authored or approved.

Both Mr. Sarpong and Mr. Agyei-Duah previously worked with KPMG, the auditing firm that reviewed SML Ghana’s operations under a directive by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

In a statement posted on its official social media pages earlier on Monday, the OSP confirmed that Mr. Sarbah is under investigation for “suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, as well as obstruction of justice in connection with the SML contract.”

The GRA–SML deal, which engaged SML Ghana to provide revenue assurance services in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector and other key areas, has sparked widespread controversy over allegations of inflated costs, procurement breaches, and questionable contractual terms.

Amid mounting public criticism and concerns about transparency, the OSP launched an investigation into the deal to determine whether there were conflicts of interest, abuse of office, or violations of procurement laws. The probe has since expanded to cover several top officials at both the GRA and the Ministry of Finance.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has hinted that the OSP is preparing to prosecute several individuals implicated in the scandal by the end of November 2025. Those expected to face charges include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former GRA Commissioners-General Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, as well as other senior officials and advisors connected to the Finance Ministry.

Preliminary findings from the OSP’s investigation reportedly indicate corruption, abuse of office, and major procurement violations in the award and execution of the SML contracts, which were initially intended to enhance government revenue mobilisation.

The OSP has reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and protection of public resources, stressing that “any individuals found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”

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