Here’s a bombshell that’s shaking the political and financial landscape of Ghana: Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta allegedly defied a direct order from Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to scrutinize a multimillion-dollar deal between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML). But here’s where it gets controversial—Senyo Hosi, the former CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, claims Ofori-Atta single-handedly overturned Bawumia’s directive, leaving many questioning the motives behind this move. And this is the part most people miss: the cancellation of this directive reportedly left former GRA Commissioner-General Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah in a state of frustration, as his team was poised to use advanced technology to automate the analysis and plug potential loopholes in the contract.
According to Hosi, when the SML contract was initially awarded, Vice President Bawumia, who chaired the Economic Management Team (EMT), insisted that Hosi’s team should thoroughly analyze the deal to ensure transparency and accountability. But in a surprising twist, Ofori-Atta, who was absent from the meeting due to illness, later nullified Bawumia’s order without consulting the EMT. This decision not only sidelined Hosi’s team but also raised eyebrows about the lack of communication within the government’s top brass. Hosi revealed, “DMB (Dr. Bawumia) had directed that we be engaged, but suddenly, Ken Ofori-Atta stepped in and changed everything. It felt like a deliberate move to derail the process.”
The fallout from this alleged defiance didn’t stop there. Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure later claimed that the cancellation of SML contracts saved Ghana over $500 million, sparking debates about whether the initial deal was ever in the nation’s best interest. Was Ofori-Atta protecting the government’s financial interests, or was there something more at play? This question remains a hot topic among analysts and the public alike.
In a revealing interview with Channel One TV on November 1, 2025, Hosi detailed how the work was eventually mishandled despite the hefty GH¢24 million paid to SML. “The data was never properly analyzed, and the technology we were supposed to deploy was never used,” he explained. This inefficiency, according to Hosi, resulted in significant losses for Ghana, further complicating the narrative around the SML deal.
The controversy reached its peak when President John Dramani Mahama directed Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson to terminate all contracts with SML on October 31, 2025. This decision followed an investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which found no justifiable basis for the government’s engagement with the firm. But was this termination a victory for accountability, or a political move to settle scores?
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: the alleged defiance of Bawumia’s directive by Ofori-Atta has opened a Pandora’s box of questions about transparency, accountability, and the inner workings of Ghana’s financial governance. What do you think? Was Ofori-Atta justified in his actions, or did he overstep his bounds? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!
