Renowned legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has condemned the recent KPMG report on the contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML), labelling it a “whitewash.” Kpebu argues that the close relationship between KPMG and the GRA compromises the firm's ability to provide an impartial assessment, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
In an interview on Eyewitness News, Kpebu emphasized that KPMG's dual role of auditing the GRA while also receiving business from them creates a symbiotic relationship that undermines its independence. He pointed out that this dynamic could skew the findings of the report and questioned the firm's objectivity in evaluating the GRA-SML contract.
Kpebu's critique comes in the wake of revelations from the report that SML received a substantial sum of GH¢1,061,054,778.00 from 2018 to the present. This disclosure was made in a press statement issued by Eugene Arhin, the Communications Director of the Presidency. Additionally, the statement outlined the estimated fees allocated to SML under the 2023 contract, totalling GH¢5,173,091,857.00 over five years.
Kpebu's assessment underscores broader concerns about transparency and accountability in government contracts, particularly within the GRA. As scrutiny intensifies, his comments contribute to ongoing debates regarding the integrity of financial audits and the need for greater oversight in public procurement processes.
