Accra, Ghana—The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has revealed that its intervention in the contentious Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) contract saved the Ghanaian state approximately $2.7 billion.
Samuel Appiah Darko, the Director of Research, Strategy and Communication at the OSP, announced the figure during an X Space conversation on Sunday, November 23, 2025. He explained that the OSP’s investigation directly led to the cancellation of the contract, which had raised significant concerns regarding its legitimacy and performance.
Stopping ‘No Work Done’ Payments
According to Mr. Darko, the OSP’s swift action prevented the state from having to pay billions of dollars for what he characterized as “no work done.” Had the OSP not intervened, the SML contract would have cost Ghana an estimated $2.7 billion over its five-year term.
The OSP official emphasized that this monumental saving falls under the institution’s preventive powers, which are designed to halt questionable or financially damaging transactions before public funds are lost.
“If not for the OSP’s investigation, this money would have gone out,” he asserted, highlighting the effectiveness of the OSP in proactively safeguarding national resources.
Additional Loss Prevention
Mr. Darko also pointed to other successful instances where the OSP prevented financial malfeasance:
- Northern Development Authority (NDA): The OSP directed that remaining contract payments be immediately halted due to suspected irregularities in the NDA case.
- Ghost Names: Investigations into the use of ‘ghost names’ on payrolls in the Northern Region alone saved the country GH¢34 million in a single financial year.
Looking ahead, Mr. Darko revealed that the OSP is strengthening its operations and expects more cases to move to court immediately following the forthcoming legal break, continuing the institution’s mandate to combat corruption and protect public resources.
