President John Dramani Mahama has cancelled all contracts between the Government of Ghana and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), according to an update shared by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.
The decision follows the conclusion of work by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. The cancellation covers agreements in the downstream and upstream petroleum sectors as well as the mining sector.
Manasseh noted that the deal, valued at more than $500 million for the first five years and renewable for another five, will no longer be implemented. He emphasised that the contracts would have entitled SML to fixed revenue across the three sectors.
In his post, Manasseh stated that the investigation was led in collaboration with journalists Adwoa Adobea-Owusu and Evans Aziamor-Mensah. He wrote that the deal was “masterminded by the fugitive Ken Ofori-Atta.”
He expressed appreciation to the President for following through on a commitment made before assuming office. “I also thank President Mahama for acting on his promise in 2024 that the NDC government under him would not recognise the shady SML deals,” he said.
With the directive, the contracts are expected to be fully terminated, bringing an end to the controversial arrangement that had dominated public debate and scrutiny.
