Lawyer for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), Cephas Boyuo, has refuted allegations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) suggesting that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has an interest in the company.
Boyuo described the OSP’s claims as “untrue and misleading,” insisting that SML is independently owned and has no political ties.
According to him, it would be illogical to suggest that Ofori-Atta has an interest in the company when, during his tenure as Finance Minister, he allegedly denied SML tax exemptions on imported equipment.
“Every equipment that SML brought in, Ken Ofori-Atta refused to give SML exemption. SML paid for everything. So if he had an interest, why did he not just allow them to bring in the items freely?” Boyuo questioned.
He emphasised that SML is fully owned by its founder, Evans Adusei, and not linked to any political figure.
“It is untrue that Ken Ofori-Atta has an interest in SML. It’s only for Evans Adusei,” he stressed, adding that the OSP should not rely on “insinuations and assumptions” in its investigations.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor is investigating SML over a revenue assurance contract it signed with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
The OSP’s report alleged procurement irregularities and questioned payments made to SML for services in the downstream petroleum sector.
The probe has sparked widespread public interest, particularly after the OSP claimed that over GH¢125 million could be recovered from the company.
SML, however, has rejected the claims, describing them as unfounded and damaging to its reputation.
Boyuo also criticised the OSP for what he described as a pattern of speculative conclusions, urging the anti-corruption agency to rely on facts and evidence.
“For a serious investigative organisation like the OSP, you do not work with insinuations. You don’t say ‘it will appear as if’ or ‘it looks like.’ Investigations must be based on evidence,” he added.
