IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, a policy think-tank with dominance across the globe has demanded full transparency regarding KPMG’s report on the Strategic Mobilization Limited controversial contract with the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Bright Simmons, Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education expressed disappointment in several aspects of the President Akufo-Addo’s response on the controversial matter.
“The Presidency’s ‘whitepaper’ also acknowledges that substantial work must be done to determine the country’s needs before the award of any contracts for revenue assurance in the ‘downstream fuel market (especially the linkages between the wholesale depots and fuel retail outlets).
“And it is a no-brainer that if any company is to render any service in this area at all, then they must receive a fixed fee and not be paid percentages of taxes collected by the State, which was the case in the now suspended SML contract”.
Bright Simmons, Honorary Vice President IMANI Africa
Mr Simmons highlighted the duplication of services in the pre-shipment inspection work contracted to Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML), which he noted was previously handled by West Blue, and the need for a fixed fee rather than a percentage-based compensation system for services rendered in the downstream fuel market.
The renowned activist while demanding for full transparency on the controversial matter, further called for access to the complete KPMG report.
He vehemently disputed any attribution of increased petroleum consumption or tax gains to Strategic Mobilization Limited’s operations, calling for an open forum to showcase expert opinions opposing such claims.
Mr Simmons expressed IMANI Centre for Policy and Education’s commitment to deploy multiple petroleum economists and tax specialists to debunk any assertions linking Strategic Mobilization Limited’s activities to national gains.
Call for Thorough Assessment
Moreover, the Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, Bright Simmons underscored the necessity for the government to conduct a thorough assessment before any further disbursement of state funds is given to Strategic Mobilization Limited or any other entity.
He stressed the availability of several civil society activists within the energy sector to rallied a cadre of specialists to undertake a pro bono evaluation of value for money and needs assessment of the Strategic Mobilization Limited operations to prove the need for the government to terminate the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority’s engagement with the company .
In a direct challenge to the President Akufo-Addo, the Honorary Vice President of IMANI Centre for Policy and Education called for the acceptance of its call for a thorough investigations of the operation of Strategic Mobilization Limited.
He admonished President Akufo-Addo not to spend any public funds on the operation of Strategic Mobilization Limited or any other company until a transparent, rigorous, and meritocratic assessment process is completed.
President Akufo-Addo has responded to the KPMG report’s findings regarding the Strategic Mobilization Limited contracts with Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
Among many things, President Akufo-Addo ordered for the termination of the upstream petroleum audit and minerals audit services by Strategic Mobilization Limited.
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