The Finance Committee of Parliament has proposed the suspension of all payments under the government's contract with SML from the beginning of next year, pending a parliamentary probe into the contract.
The committee highlighted the need for Parliamentary approval under the Financial Management Act after reviewing the contract.
During a debate on the budget approval for other government obligations for the year 2024, Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson informed journalists, “As part of the report, the parliament of the Republic of Ghana has resolved that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) must immediately stop all payments to SML beginning January 1, 2024.”
He emphasized that the contract, in its current form, lacks validity as it constitutes a multi-year commitment, and section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act mandates that all multi-year commitments must be presented to parliament for consideration and approval.
Dr. Ato Forson further noted, “The same Finance Committee working with parliament has resolved to initiate a probe into the SML. I urge the Committee of Finance to conduct this probe diligently and in a manner that will show transparency.”