By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has levelled 78 charges of corruption and related offences against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, the company Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), and six additional individuals.
Those charged include senior former officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) such as Emmanuel Kofi Nti (66) and Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah (64), both former Commissioner-Generals, as well as Isaac Crentsil (63) and Kwadwo Damoah (65), who previously headed the Customs Division.
Also named are Ernest Darko Akore (67), the former Chef de Cabinet at the Finance Ministry, and Evans Adusei (62), described as the beneficial owner, CEO, and controlling mind behind SML now known as Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd.
The charges stem from what prosecutors describe as a complex and prolonged scheme in which public officials allegedly collaborated with SML to siphon more than GHS 1.4 billion from the state through questionable contracts and payments for work that investigators say was never done.
This development follows months of heightened public attention on the SML contracts, which became the subject of an official corruption probe. After reviewing the OSP’s findings, President John Mahama on October 31 directed the “immediate termination of all contracts with the Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML)”.
Government officials said the decision reinforces the administration’s commitment to “accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.”
The Finance Ministry has now been instructed to oversee the termination process, ensuring that every step complies with established financial and legal standards.
Meanwhile, the OSP has revealed that previous attempts to secure the former Minister’s presence for questioning have failed, as he is currently outside the country. According to the Office, efforts are now underway to extradite Mr Ofori-Atta to face justice.
