Sulemana Braimah, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), has commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for releasing the full KPMG report on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) agreement, despite initial reluctance.
Braimah noted that the President’s U-turn is a welcome move, as it acknowledges the importance of transparency and accountability.
The President’s decision to release the report came after an initial request from MFWA was denied, citing exemptions under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
However, in a surprising move, the Presidency announced on May 22 that the full report would be made public, citing a commitment to transparency and openness.
The Presidency explained that although the President was not obligated to release the report, he chose to do so in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
The report was commissioned by the President in December 2023 to investigate the controversial contracts and transactions between GRA and SML.
Initially, the Presidency had relied on exemptions under the RTI Act to refuse the release of the report, citing the need to protect the deliberative process and decision-making at the highest levels of government.
However, Braimah urged the Presidency to have a better understanding of the exemptions provisions to avoid future U-turns.
The release of the report is seen as a victory for transparency and accountability, and a recognition of the importance of openness in governance.
The Presidency has emphasized the need for those who file applications under the RTI Act to have a thorough understanding of its provisions and safeguards intended to protect decision-making at the highest levels of government.
