The Jubilee House says it can not disclose the full audit report compiled by KPMG concerning the revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML).

It has, thus, declined a right-to-information request filed by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) on 24 April 2024 under section 18 of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989).

The audit was at the instance of President Akufo-Addo, following investigative reports by the Fourth Estate, owned by MFWA, of alleged undeserved hefty payments to SML.

A statement issued by the Jubilee House on Wednesday, 8 May 2024, said the full report cannot be made public since it risks compromising the president's thought processes.

“Upon careful consideration and in accordance with section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) of the RTI Act, I regret to inform you that your request has been refused", the Jubilee House letter to MFWA said.

It relied on Section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i) to justify the refusal.

Those clauses, according to the presidency, state that "information prepared for or submitted to the President or Vice President containing opinions, advice, deliberations, recommendations, minutes, or consultations, is exempt from disclosure and that disclosure of such information would compromise the integrity of the deliberative process by revealing the thought process, considerations, and influence on decision-making reserved for the highest offices of the land.”

The full KPMG report, the presidency pointed out, "contains opinions, advice, deliberations, and recommendations that are crucial to the president’s deliberative process and hence qualify as exempt information under section 5 (1) (a) and (b) (i)".

The presidency, however noted: "Understanding the public interest in the GRA-SML contract, the president has published the principal findings and recommendations of the KPMG report in a detailed press statement issued by the Office of the President on 24th April 2024".

"Thus, the public remains informed while respecting the statutory restrictions on specific disclosures,” it added.