Two senior officials linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), currently under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP)
Two senior officials linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), currently under investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over a controversial revenue assurance contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), have filed a human rights suit against the OSP.
The applicants, Christian Tetteh Sottie, Managing Director of SML and former Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General of GRA, and Dr. Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division and now a manager at SML, are seeking judicial relief from what they describe as unlawful and humiliating treatment by the OSP.
In their application filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court, Accra, the two argue that the OSP acted unlawfully when its officers allegedly photographed them while holding placards bearing their names during their interrogation and processing.
They contend that the act constituted a violation of their fundamental human rights as enshrined under Articles 15(1) and (2) — which guarantee respect for human dignity — as well as Articles 18(2), 19(2)(c) and 21(1)(a) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
They are therefore asking the court for a declaration that the photographing exercise was unconstitutional and violated their rights to privacy, dignity, and fair treatment.
The suit further seeks an order restraining the OSP from publishing or releasing the photographs in any form, arguing that such publication would amount to public shaming and prejudice the yet-to-be-filed case.
The respondents in the case are the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney-General.
The OSP, which is currently investigating several persons over alleged procurement breaches and corruption-related offences in the SML-GRA contract, has not yet filed formal charges against the applicants.
The SML investigation stems from a controversial revenue assurance contract signed between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority in 2018, which was later renewed and expanded under former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta.
The deal was meant to enhance monitoring of petroleum sector revenues and plug leakages, but it came under heavy public scrutiny after a documentary in late 2023 alleged inflated payments and questionable contractual terms.
Following public outcry, then President Nana Akufo-Addo suspended the contract and referred the matter to the OSP for investigation.
The OSP subsequently began questioning top GRA officials, SML executives, and political figures including Ofori-Atta, who was cited as a key figure in the award of the contract.
The new human rights suit by the two SML officials signals growing resistance to the OSP’s methods as it intensifies its anti-corruption investigations.
It also raises questions about the OSP’s investigative protocols — especially the use of placards and photographs, a practice reminiscent of police arrest procedures, which many lawyers argue could breach the presumption of innocence.
Meanwhile, in a separate corruption case involving the alleged diversion of imported rice at Tema Port, the OSP appeared in court on Tuesday.
The case, The Republic v. Issah Seidu & 3 Others (CR/0513/2025), involves four public officials — Issah Seidu, James Keck Osei, John Abban, and Peter Archibold Hyde — accused of attempting to unlawfully appropriate ten containers of rice.
They face charges of corruption by a public officer and using public office for profit.
The prosecution informed the court that all witness statements and disclosures had been filed and served on the defence counsel.
However, the defence requested additional time to review the documents.
The court granted the request and adjourned proceedings to 7 November 2025 for a Case Management Conference, with the main trial expected to commence next year after the presiding judge returns from leave.
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