Mamfe: mayor brags of hitch free new year celebrationPresident directs audit of SML/GRA contract

The Mayor of Mamfe, Robertson Tabenchong Ashu has expressed satisfaction after noticing that new year festivities went on unperturbed in his municipality. A victory he beelieves is even more special considering it happened on a traditional ghost town day which has been enforced for several years now in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. He was speaking on January 1, 2024 as the population came out of their homes massively, celebrating and going about their business activities normally. 'I am delighted for the massive turnout of my population for the new year celebration. I strongly support Minister Paul Atanga Nji's statement that lucifer has rejected Ambazonian fighters and leaders. It is true. Everyone in Mamfe and the entire Manyu division has rejected them. This is the time for us to stand up as one and fight the common enemy, develop our municipality and division. The youths are ready to collaborate with the defence and security forces for peace to reign once and for all,' Mayor Roberts on Tabenchong said. In Kumba, Meme division where New Year celebration was timid, the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO), Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlain at a musical concert he organized with the aim of promoting peace and living together, begged God to touch 'sinful souls' [referring to seccessionist fighters] to repent. 'We have faced a lot of atrocities in 2023 and difficulties since the start of the crisis. The New Year has just begun. Let us start it with joy and new behaviours, as well as commitments to bring back complete peace in the entire Meme division. We pray the Almighty God continues to guide us and help send away from Meme division all those atrocities we registered last year,' the SDO, Ntou'ou Ndong Chamberlain prayed. President Paul Biya in his end of year address to the nation strongly condemned the Egbekaw - Mamfe massacre over a month ago, and reiterated the perpetrators drop down their arms and join the DDR centres. He also commissioned state forces, and local authorities and the population to work as one to put and end to separatist activities. Source: Cameroon News Agency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has ordered an immediate audit of the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) five-year consolidated contract. The GRA contracted SML in 2019 to undertake revenue assurances services. The agreement between the two entities was to boost revenue assurances in the downstream petroleum sector, upstream petroleum production, and the value chain for minerals and metals resources. However, various organisations, including Ghana's legislature, have since questioned the deal, claiming that it was riddled with flaws in its execution. A statement issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency on Tuesday, said the President had appointed KPMG, the reputable Audit, Tax and Advisory Services firm, to undertake the audit. This was to ensure transparency and accountability in the execution of the contractual arrangement. The statement said the audit would ascertain the rationale or needs assessment performed prior to the contract approval by GRA and assess how the arrangement aligned with specific needs. It would also assess the appropriateness of the contracting methodology, verifying compliance with legal standards and industry best practices in the procurement process for the selection of SML. The audit would evaluate the degree of alignment between current activities and the stipulated contract scope and identify any deviations. It would evaluate the value or benefit that SML has so far offered to the GRA through the engagement; and review the financial arrangements, including pricing structures, payment terms and resolution of any financial compliance issues. The President has given the audit firm two weeks to submit a report on its findings, along with suitable recommendations, and has directed the Ministry of Finance and the GRA to provide KPMG with all help needed to undertake the audit. He has also directed the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority to suspend the performance of the contract, pending the submission o f the audit report, including any payments presently envisaged under its terms. Source: Ghana News Agency