The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has alleged that it has discovered tax irregularities connected to automatic payments made by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) for downstream petroleum audit services.
Special Prosecutor Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, addressing journalists on October 30, 2025, indicated that the GRA failed to deduct statutory taxes amounting to GHS13,380,000 during the processing of payments.
He said while the tax component was later offset in July 2024, a penal component of GHS18,800,000 remains unpaid.
He further alleged that SML still owes a Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax liability of GHS346,967.53, further highlighting lapses in tax compliance and oversight.
“A central issue arising from the automatic payments by GRA to SML in respect of downstream petroleum audit is that GRA, the central tax authority, failed to deduct statutory taxes totaling GHS13,380,000. GRA subsequently, in July 2024, offset this tax component.
“However, a penal component of GHS18,800,000 remains outstanding. In addition, there is an outstanding pay-as-you-earn tax liability of GHS346,967.53.”
He went on to state that contracts awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) were not only unnecessary and unlawful but also influenced by personal gain.
He claimed that Dr. Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and now General Manager of SML, may have acted in ways that suggested he sought to secure personal benefits after leaving public office.
“Our conclusion becomes even more telling on the consideration that upon retirement as the commissioner of the customs division of GRA, Mr. Crentsil took up appointment as the GM of SML, colouring his actions while in office as an inducement for future rewards of a retirement benefit and use of public office for private benefit.”
He said the contracts awarded to SML lacked genuine justification and were approved in clear violation of statutory procedures, adding that payments were made without adequate verification of work done, leading to significant financial losses to the state.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
