A human rights action suit has been filed against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) by two individuals being investigated in the high-profile Strategic Mobilisation  Ghana Limited (SML) revenue-assurance contract.

According to them, the OSP’s photographing them while holding placards bearing their names constitute unlawful violations of their rights.

The two applicants, applicants are Christian Tetteh Sotie, Managing Director of SML (and former Technical Advisor to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Commissioner-General), and Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA and currently a Manager at SML are therefore seeking legal declarations to that effect.

They ask the court to first declare that the OSP’s action was a violation of their rights and any publication of the photographs would violate their human rights, and (3) that the OSP be restrained from releasing the images.

The duo forms part of suspected individuals, including former Finance Minister Ken Ofori‑Atta, implicated in the ongoing investigation into the SML–GRA contract for revenue assurance.

In 2024, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) initiated an investigation into the controversial contract between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The focus of the probe was on potential breaches of procurement processes and allegations of corruption and corruption-related activities.

This investigative move followed a complaint filed on December 18, 2023, by The Fourth Estate, represented by journalists Evans Aziamor-Mensah, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Manasseh Azure Awuni. The details of the investigation were outlined in the Office of the Special Prosecutor's half-yearly report released on December 29, 2023.

“The Office has commenced a preliminary investigation into contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (a company registered in Ghana) and Ghana Revenue Authority for the stated objective of the enhancement of revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and minerals and metals resources value chain.”

“The preliminary investigation is based on a complaint filed on 18 December 2023 by The Fourth Estate (a project of Media Foundation for West Africa) represented by three (3) journalists – Evans Aziamor-Mensah, Adwoa Adobea-Owusu, and Manasseh Azure Awuni. The complaint alleged possible corruption, including breaches of the Public Procurement Act, in respect of the contractual arrangements," the OSP added.

In a December 2023 investigative report, The Fourth Estate implicated Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Ministry of Finance in a contentious contract.

The report alleged that GRA had granted SML a purported 10-year contract with an annual payment of $100 million, raising concerns about possible irregularities. SML refuted this claim, asserting that it had a five-year contract instead.

The GRA, in a statement on December 20, 2023, maintained that proper procurement procedures were followed. On January 3, 2024, SML welcomed President Akufo-Addo's directive to suspend its ongoing revenue assurance operations and undergo an audit of its contract with the GRA and the Ministry of Finance.

President Akufo-Addo appointed KPMG, an audit, tax, and advisory services firm, to conduct an immediate audit. SML expressed confidence that the audit would provide a clear and accurate depiction of its operations.

Meanwhile, the Minerals Commission has stated that it did not play any role in the award of the contract to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for revenue assurance services in the gold production sector.

The CEO of the Minerals Commission, Martin Kwaku Ayisi, responded to a Right to Information (RTI) request, stating that the commission had no involvement in awarding the contract to SML.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has announced a list of cases it is currently pursuing as the courts resume from vacation.

In a post shared on its official Facebook page, the independent anti-corruption agency in Ghana noted that several individuals were currently facing charges, and more others will be prosecuted in the last quarter.

“With the courts resuming from vacation, these are the cases the OSP is actively prosecuting on your behalf, with more cases to be filed in the last quarter of the year, he said.

According to the OSP, “earlier this year, seven individuals were convicted through plea bargains”.

Among the cases highlighted by the OSP are those involving former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive Mustapha Abdul-Hamid and nine others, as well as former Public Procurement Authority (PPA) boss Adjenim Boateng Adjei, former presidential staffer Charles Bissue, and two others.

The Office reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in public life and pledged to continue its work without fear or favour.

On 23 July 2023, the Office initiated criminal proceedings in the High Court, accra against Mustapha abdul-Hamid (a former Chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority) and nine (9) others, including three (3) corporate entities. the accused persons are charged with twenty-five counts of conspiracy to commit extortion by a public officer; extortion by a public officer; using public office for profit; conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering. the case is adjourned till 26 august 2025.