SML Scandal: Former GRA Boss Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah, 2 Others Arrested
A former Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, along with two other former senior officials of the Authority, has been arrested and placed in custody in connection with the ongoing Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal.
The three ex-officials reportedly spent the night in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), formerly known as the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), as part of a broader investigation into alleged corruption and procurement irregularities involving SML and its dealings with the GRA.
Links to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML)
Two of the detained former officials are believed to be currently employed by Strategic Mobilisation Limited, a private firm that has been under scrutiny for securing multi-year contracts with the GRA. These contracts, according to various reports, involved the monitoring of downstream petroleum revenues, among other services.
The controversy surrounding SML intensified after a series of investigative reports alleged that the contracts lacked transparency, raised conflict of interest concerns, and may have resulted in significant financial losses to the state.
High-profile probe gains momentum
The arrest marks a major development in what has become one of the most high-profile anti-corruption investigations in recent times under the administration of President John Dramani Mahama. The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and national security agencies are said to be coordinating efforts to uncover the full extent of wrongdoing and hold culpable individuals accountable.
The NIB is expected to conduct further interrogations over the next few days, with the possibility of charges being filed depending on the outcome of their preliminary findings.
Public pressure and transparency demands
Public interest in the case continues to mount, especially given the involvement of high-ranking officials from both public institutions and private sector entities. Civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates have called for maximum transparency, urging the government to ensure swift but fair legal proceedings.
Background on Rev. Dr. Owusu-Amoah
Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah served as Commissioner-General of the GRA during a critical period of Ghana’s fiscal operations. His leadership at the Authority was often marked by controversial policy shifts and revenue reforms, many of which are now under fresh scrutiny due to revelations from the SML case.
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