OSP Charges Ken Ofori-Atta and 7 Others with 78 Counts Over SML Deal

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has formally charged former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others with 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences linked to the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The charges, filed at the High Court in Accra, stem from allegations that the multi-million-cedi contract was awarded without proper procurement processes, statutory approvals, or evidence of proven capacity by SML to execute the services it was contracted for.

According to the OSP, the accused played various roles in what has been described as a scheme that caused significant financial loss to the state, estimated at over GH¢1.4 billion.

Investigators allege that payments to SML were placed on “automatic mode,” disconnected from verified performance, while single-source procurement was used to bypass due diligence and transparency.

The case involves high-ranking former officials of the Ministry of Finance and the GRA, as well as SML executives, reflecting the scale and seriousness of the alleged misconduct.

This development marks one of the most high-profile corruption cases in recent years, raising critical questions about accountability, procurement integrity, and oversight within Ghana’s public institutions.

As the case heads to court, many Ghanaians will be watching closely to see whether the proceedings will be swift, transparent and fair. The outcome could set a major precedent for future anti-corruption efforts and significantly influence public trust in government systems.