Accra, Ghana – In a significant move towards transparency and accountability, President Nana Akufo-Addo has released the full report by KPMG on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) transaction, overriding the exemption provisions in the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The RTI Act, which aims to promote transparency and accountability in government, exempts information submitted to the President or Vice President from disclosure if it could undermine their deliberative process (Section 5(1)(a) and (b)(i)). However, President Akufo-Addo has chosen to waive this privilege, prioritizing “full transparency in governance, openness, and honesty with the public.”
The release of the report follows a request from the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) under Section 18 of the RTI Act. Initially, the President declined the request due to the report’s exempt status, but has since reconsidered, despite judicial support for declining such requests.
In a statement, Director of Communications Eugene Arhin announced that the KPMG report is now accessible on the Presidency’s website. This move is seen as a significant step towards transparency and accountability, as the report provides a comprehensive analysis and informed advice on the issues surrounding the GRA-SML transaction.
The KPMG investigation was commissioned on December 29, 2023, and the report’s findings and recommendations were outlined in a detailed press statement by the President on April 24, 2024. The report’s release is expected to provide further insight into the transaction and the government’s handling of the matter.
The President’s Office emphasized the need for a thorough understanding of the RTI Act’s provisions, highlighting that legal safeguards are in place to protect high-level government decision-making processes. The release of the report demonstrates the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability, and its willingness to engage with the public and civil society organizations in promoting good governance.
The release of the KPMG report is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to promote transparency and accountability in Ghana. It is expected to provide valuable insights into the government’s handling of the GRA-SML transaction, and to inform further discussions and reforms in the country’s governance and accountability framework.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is yet to comment on the full release of the report by the president.
