OSP set to prosecute Ken Ofori-Atta and top officials over SML scandal

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is preparing to file corruption and corruption-related charges against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and several high-ranking officials following months of investigations into the controversial revenue assurance deal with Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

The probe, which began earlier this year, uncovered what the OSP described as widespread irregularities and questionable payments under the SML contract, a deal originally intended to help the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) improve revenue monitoring in the downstream petroleum and minerals sectors.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng said evidence gathered points to statutory breaches, conflicts of interest, and payments made without justification. He explained that the contract was awarded despite SML lacking the technical capacity or infrastructure to perform the work it was engaged to deliver.

According to the OSP, several top officials at the Ministry of Finance and the GRA will be charged alongside the former minister for their alleged roles in the scandal. The accused are said to have authorised or benefited from irregular transactions that cost the state hundreds of millions of cedis.

Investigators are also seeking to recover over GH¢125 million from SML, said to have been received through unearned service fees.

The impending charges mark a major development in one of Ghana’s most controversial public procurement cases in recent years, one that has raised concerns about transparency, accountability, and political interference in revenue administration.