Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) has vehemently rejected claims made by KPMG in its recent audit report regarding its contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
SML asserts that it fully fulfilled its obligations as outlined in the Transaction Audit Service Agreement.
In a report submitted to President Akufo-Addo, KPMG concluded that SML had only partially fulfilled the service requirements.
The report raised concerns that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) might not have fully realized all the anticipated benefits from the service, partly due to the lack of monitoring and evaluation processes within the GRA.
However, SML rebuffed these allegations, stressing its adherence to the terms that led to the subsequent recommendation and awarding of the downstream petroleum audit contract.
“Regarding the transaction audit service, SML delivered fully on the basis for subsequent recommendation and awarding of the downstream petroleum audit contract. The Transaction Audit contract includes provisions for monitoring and evaluation services as well as a value-for-money assessment, both of which were diligently adhered to by the GRA and SML,” SML clarified.
SML added that that KPMG made similar findings regarding External Price Verification Services saying that “SML rejects KPMG’s observation that ICUMS has inbuilt capabilities for External Price Verification.”
“SML is an independent assurance audit firm contracted to audit ICUMS, assess the customs at CTSB (Customs Technical Service Bureau) on classification and valuation, and audit the values accordingly. ICUMS cannot audit its operations. SML services provide extra oversight when it comes to classification and valuation,” it stated.
However, President Nana Addo Dakwa Akuffo-Addo has since adopted KPMGs recommendations to halt the upstream petroleum and minerals audit services previously provided by SML to GRA.
