A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team, Delali Sewoekpor, has launched a scathing attack on former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, accusing him of abuse of power, corruption, and favoritism in the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) deal.
He insisted that the recent contract termination ordered by President John Dramani Mahama is only the beginning of a broader reckoning for the former minister.
Speaking after the President’s directive to cancel all existing contracts between the Government of Ghana and SML, Mr. Sewoekpor said the revelations surrounding the deal expose deep-seated corruption that thrived under Mr. Ofori-Atta’s leadership at the Finance Ministry.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg, looking at all the things we are talking about that involve him. There are more scandals involving Ken Ofori-Atta,” Mr. Sewoekpor said, suggesting that more scandals linked to the former minister may soon come to light.
President John Dramani Mahama’s decision, issued on October 31, 2025, followed the conclusion of investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into revenue assurance contracts between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). The OSP’s findings cited procurement irregularities and questionable value-for-money outcomes.
The President’s directive, contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, ordered the ministry to “take urgent steps to end all contractual arrangements with SML.”
Beyond the move aligning with the government’s renewed commitment to transparency and fiscal discipline in public procurement and revenue mobilization, Mr. Sewoekpor described it as a necessary corrective measure, asserting that the SML contracts were engineered to benefit a select few rather than the nation.
He argued that the former Finance Minister’s influence over the deal reflected a pattern of cronyism and disregard for due process. “Ken Ofori-Atta must be held accountable,” he said.
“He had the opportunity to be the Finance Minister of Ghana, for crying out loud. Did he have to engage in this glaring, corrupt activity? He did not care or give a hoot, simply because within his party, he is a god?”
Delali Sewoekpor, NDC Communications Team Member
NPP’s Silence
Mr. Sewoekpor also took aim at members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for what he described as their “selective silence,” on corruption issues involving their own officials. He pointed out that many party supporters and government appointees chose political convenience over moral responsibility when the SML matter first surfaced.
“You had the chance to speak when it mattered most. The NPP cannot hope to regain credibility with Ghanaians if it continues to defend or stay silent on the misdeeds of its former Finance Minister”
Delali Sewoekpor, NDC Communications Team Member
He warned that unless the party publicly distances itself from Mr. Ofori-Atta and supports investigations into his actions, the corruption stigma will continue to haunt its reputation for years.
The controversy surrounding SML began under the previous administration, when the company was contracted to monitor and verify petroleum and other revenue streams on behalf of the Ghana Revenue Authority. The arrangement came under intense scrutiny after investigative reports questioned its legality, cost, and effectiveness.
The OSP’s subsequent probe found multiple procedural breaches and cited significant concerns over the contract’s transparency and oversight. The termination of the deal, government sources say, is intended to reset the accountability framework around public revenue management.
Mr. Sewoekpor welcomed the President’s decisive action but insisted that accountability must not end with contract cancellations. He called for a thorough audit of all transactions handled under the former minister’s tenure, suggesting that prosecution should follow if evidence of wrongdoing is established.
“The cancellation of the SML contracts is a good first step,” he said, “but justice demands that those who authorized and benefited from these deals face the full consequences of their actions.”
As public debate grows over how far accountability should go, Mr. Sewoekpor’s comments add to a rising chorus within the NDC pushing for institutional reform and criminal investigation into alleged financial misconduct by former officials.
The episode has once again placed Ken Ofori-Atta at the centre of Ghana’s corruption discourse – and raised fresh questions about the legacy of fiscal management under his watch.
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