The information gathered suggests the former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Isaac Crentsil has been detained by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
According to reports, Isaac Crentsil has been detained concerning the controversial contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).
Sources familiar with the matter confirmed that Isaac Crentsil was picked up earlier this week for questioning.
The Ex-Commissioner of the Customs Division was picked up regarding his role in the award and operationalisation of the SML deal, which has been under intense public scrutiny.
It will be recalled the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) accused the former finance minister Ken Ofori Atta of causing financial loss to the state in several dealings including the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA’s) – Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd (SML).
The “SML Scandal”, an exposé by The Fourth Estate, titled, ‘The GH¢ 3 Billion Lie’, fingered the Ministry of Finance for awarding a $100 million contract to SML to monitor Upstream Petroleum Production and to Audit the value chain of Minerals and Metals Resources.
SML has stated that its upstream operations have not commenced and pointed out that the $100 million per year payment allegation is entirely false.
According to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Rev. Dr. Ammishaddai Adu Owusu-Amoah, and his entire nuclear family have run away from Ghana over the $100 million SML corruption scandal.
The former GRA boss allegedly signed the $100 million SML contract, run from Ghana hours before President Akufo-Addo called for an investigation into the SML scandal.
Meanwhile, Manasseh Azure Awuni an award-winning investigative journalist referenced the SML deal as “the biggest scam”, “the SML scandal,” and “shady”.
In reaction to a defamation suit filed against him by Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) over claims made in his book, ‘The President Ghana Never Got’.
According to Manasseh Azure Awuni, he stands by everything he has published on the SML scandal and is ready to defend it in court.
In a post on social media page X, Manasseh Azure wrote, “My lawyers have written to the court and have been served the writ of SML’s GHS21 million defamation suit against me. They will enter appearance today, and the rest of the processes will continue.
I stand by everything I have published on the SML scandal and am ready to defend it in court”, he added.
See the post below:
BREAKING-
The NIB has detained Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in connection with ongoing investigations into the controversial contract awarded to Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML). pic.twitter.com/VfZ3tyCoFw
— Ghana Chronicles (@_GhChronicles) May 21, 2025
