The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) focused on Extractives, Anti-Corruption, and Good Governance has urged President-elect John Mahama to cancel two controversial agreements, the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract and the Agyapa Royalties deal.
In an open letter to the President, the CSOs highlighted concerns over financial inefficiencies and potential corruption associated with these agreements.
They argued that the SML contract has diverted millions of Ghana Cedis into private entities with minimal returns to the state, calling its termination a necessary step to curb revenue losses and rebuild public trust in financial governance.
“The ongoing SML contract has diverted millions of Ghana Cedis into private hands without delivering commensurate value to the nation. Terminating this agreement will seal as significant revenue leakage and restore public confidence in financial management practices”. The coalition noted.
The coalition, comprising groups such as the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC), and IMANI Centre for Policy and Education, also voiced strong opposition to the Agyapa Royalties deal.
They described it as a risk to Ghana’s mineral wealth and noted widespread public disapproval. The group further recommended a review of the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act to safeguard national interests.
Additionally, the CSOs emphasized the need for reforms in the energy sector, particularly reducing political interference in state-owned enterprises like the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Ghana Gas.
They proposed measures to enhance leadership stability and operational efficiency while addressing systemic inefficiencies in the energy distribution chain to boost performance and profitability.
“Limit political interference in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) within the energy sector, especially GNPC and Ghana Gas, to promote leadership stability and operational efficiency. Address persistent challenges in the energy distribution value chain, which have eroded sector performance and profitability,” the CSOs cautioned.
The CSOs also urged the President-elect to abolish the contentious Agyapa Royalties deal, citing concerns over its potential to undermine Ghana’s mineral wealth and noting the strong public opposition it has faced. They recommended a comprehensive review of the Mineral Income Investment Fund (MIIF) Act to ensure greater accountability and alignment with national interests.
In addition, the coalition called for urgent reforms in the energy sector, emphasizing the importance of minimizing political interference in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) such as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and Ghana Gas.
They highlighted the need for measures to enhance leadership stability and operational efficiency across these entities.
The CSOs further advocated for systemic improvements within the energy distribution value chain, aiming to address inefficiencies, improve sector performance, and boost overall profitability.
The coalition assured their readiness to support the Mahama administration in implementing reforms that promote transparency, accountability, and efficiency.
