President Akufo-Addo has extended the two-week deadline given to audit firm KPMG to complete its audit on the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML).
The extension was granted following a request by the audit firm.
The firm was expected to complete its work on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, after the president directed them to conduct the audit.
However, the deadline has been extended to Friday, February 23, 2024.
A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, on Wednesday, said, “KPMG is to submit its final report no later than Friday, 23rd February 2024.”
The statement further noted that the president had also taken note of the request made by GRA, asking for his permission to allow the monitoring system installed and used by SML to continue, notwithstanding the suspension of its GRA-related operations.
GRA had argued that the “system will continue to record data real-time until your further directive after the conclusion of the investigation.”
The request by the GRA was contained in a rejoinder to the President dated January 16, 2024, and signed by the Commissioner General of GRA, Rev. Dr Amishaddai Owusu-Amoah.
According to the GRA, SML raised concerns about the operation ramifications and disruptions that would arise from the intended suspension of operations.
But the President “directed that the status quo, with respect to the suspension of the performance of the contract, should remain in effect until the completion of the audit and, subsequent, submission of the audit report by KPMG.”
The President directed KPMG to conduct a comprehensive audit into the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd (SML).
The President has also suspended the performance of the contract pending the submission of the audit report.
The Terms of Reference of the Audit are as follows:
i. conduct an audit to ascertain the rationale or needs assessment performed prior to the contract approval by GRA, and assess how the arrangement aligns with specific needs;
ii. assess the appropriateness of the contracting methodology, verifying compliance with legal standards and industry best practices in the procurement process for the selection of SML;
iii. evaluate the degree of alignment between current activities and the stipulated contract scope, identifying any deviations;
iv. evaluate the value or benefit that SML has so far offered to the GRA through this engagement;
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
