The High Court has granted the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) permission to serve summons on former Finance Minister Kenneth Nana Yaw Ofori-Atta and his former Chief of Staff, Ernest Akore, in connection with the ongoing GH¢1.4 billion Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML) revenue assurance case.
The decision, announced on December 11 and published on the OSP’s official Facebook page, marks a major procedural step in the prosecution’s efforts to bring all accused persons before the court.
Five Accused Granted GH¢50 Million Bail Each
The court admitted Emmanuel Kofi Nti, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Isaac Crentsil, Evans Adusei, and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd to GH¢50 million bail each, with two sureties, both to be justified.
Under the bail conditions, they are required to:
- Deposit all passports and travel documents
- Report to the OSP once every week
According to the OSP, the bail terms will formally take effect on Monday, 15 December, due to the court sitting closing late. Until then, the accused remain on their existing OSP bail terms.
Prosecution: GH¢1.4 Billion Loss Linked to Inflated Procurement Scheme
Prosecutors argue that the accused orchestrated an elaborate scheme to improperly secure procurement contracts for Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd, leading to financial losses exceeding GH¢1.4 billion.
They further allege that the accused:
- Influenced procurement processes for unlawful gain
- Used public office for personal profit
- Positioned the state to lose additional billions of dollars had the scheme not been halted
The allegations form one of the largest procurement-related financial loss cases in Ghana’s recent history.
Court Declines Bench Warrant for MP Kwadwo Damoah
The case has been adjourned to December 17, 2025, when Kwadwo Damoah, MP for Jaman South, is expected to appear and take his plea.
The court declined a prosecution request for a bench warrant against him, ruling that he enjoyed parliamentary immunity at the time the service of notice was attempted, as Parliament was in session.
The ruling highlights the constitutional complexities surrounding the prosecution of sitting Members of Parliament.
