President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has released an over 300-page audit report on contracts and transactions between Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).
After an initial decision to not release the full audit report by KPMG, the presidency announced in a statement dated May 22 that the report had been released despite Right To Information (RTI) exemptions raised earlier.
“The President, in the interest of full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public, has decided to waive the privilege under section 5 of the RTI Act and has directed the publication of the KPMG report in full,” the statement signed by Communications Director, Eugene Arhin read in part.
On 24th April 2024, Akufo-Addo, received a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), under section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) (RTI Act), for a copy of the KPMG report.
The President had commissioned KPMG, on 29th December, 2023, to undertake an inquiry to gain a clear understanding of the matters in controversy, and to be properly advised in taking the necessary decisions.
In justifying the earlier refusal to release the full report, the presidency said the KPMG report comprised opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are integral to the President’s deliberative process and, therefore, qualifies as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act.
At the time, a detailed press statement outlining KPMG’s findings and recommendations, and the president’s directives to the Ministry of Finance and GRA; was published.
Below is the full KPMG report as published by the Presidency:
