CSOs challenge KPMG's claim linking rise in petroleum consumption to SML

Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have disputed auditing firm KPMG's claim that any increase in the country's petroleum consumption should be attributed to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

ACEP, IMANI, and ILAPI are demanding "an open forum to show that the weight of expert opinion in Ghana is against any such flawed reasoning."

This is in response to President Akufo-Addo's press release on actions it is taking based on KPMG's findings and recommendations following the Ghana Revenue Authority and SML controversial contract.

Writing on behalf of the CSOs, Bright Simons said, "The Presidency's "whitepaper" also acknowledges that substantial work must be done to determine the country's needs before the award of any contracts for revenue assurance in the "downstream" fuel market (especially the linkages between the wholesale depots and fuel retail outlets).

"And it is a no-brainer that if any company is to render any service in this area at all, then they must receive a fixed fee and not be paid percentages of taxes collected by the State, which was the case in the now-suspended SML contract."

But, the CSOs say they are seriously disappointed by a number of elements of the President's "whitepaper" insisting on seeing the full KPMG report.

"We dispute their apparent claim that any increase in petroleum consumption in Ghana should be attributed to SML.

We demand an open forum to show that the weight of expert opinion in Ghana is against any such flawed reasoning."

Below is the press release;

Comment to the Press on KPMG Report re SML Contract

It is helpful that the President of Ghana accepts that infractions occurred in the award of the SML contracts, that have so far netted the company more than GH¢1 billion.

We dispute their apparent claim that any increase in petroleum consumption in Ghana should be attributed to SML.

We demand an open forum to show that the weight of expert opinion in Ghana is against any such flawed reasoning.

Multiple petroleum economists are on standby to prove that no gains in consumption volume can be attributed to SML's work.