OSP arrests GRA’s acting head of legal over controversial SML contract

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has confirmed the arrest of Freeman Sarbah, the Acting Head of Legal at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), as investigations into the controversial revenue assurance contract between the GRA and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) intensify.

Mr. Sarbah is being investigated for suspected corruption and corruption-related offences, as well as obstruction of justice, in connection with the GRA–SML deal.

His arrest marks a significant escalation in the OSP’s probe and signals a deeper focus on senior public officials suspected of playing roles in the approval and concealment of the alleged unlawful contract.

The obstruction of justice charge is considered particularly serious, given the OSP’s earlier findings that the GRA failed to fully cooperate with its investigations.

The authority reportedly withheld complete agreements between SML and its third-party partners, an act the OSP described as a breach of transparency and governance standards.

According to the OSP, the investigation has exposed a pattern of “self-serving official patronage based on false and unverified claims” surrounding the deal.

The latest arrest suggests that criminal proceedings may soon be initiated against individuals accused of obstructing justice and facilitating the irregular contracts.

The OSP’s inquiry has already uncovered several major issues in the SML contracts.

By December 2024, SML had reportedly received over GH¢1.4 billion in payments from the state, many of which were processed automatically, without proper oversight or verification of performance.

The contracts were also deemed unlawful, having been awarded without approval from the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and lacking parliamentary approval for their multi-year structure.

Investigators further identified breaches of multiple laws, including Section 179C of the Criminal Offences Act, which prohibits the use of public office for personal gain, and Section 92(2b) of the Public Procurement Act, which forbids the manipulation of procurement processes for unfair advantage.

Mr. Sarbah’s arrest forms part of a broader crackdown on senior GRA officials implicated in the SML scandal.

The OSP has previously detained or questioned several former Commissioners-General and Commissioners of Customs over their roles in approving or implementing the deal.

Describing its findings as revealing a “tightly knit and deliberate series of actions,” the OSP maintains that the SML contracts were part of an orchestrated plan that caused significant financial losses to the state.

The arrest of the GRA’s Acting Head of Legal underscores the OSP’s resolve to ensure accountability at all levels of public service, regardless of rank or position.

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