Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said the Health Ministry cannot be trusted on its claims that no monies has yet been made to Service Ghana Auto Group Ltd. in relation to the alleged ambulance spare parts scandal.
According to the lawmaker, the Ministry has a record of lying to Ghanaians in procurement matters where the sector swindled the nation of over US$2million in the Sputnik-V vaccines scandal during the Covid-19 era.
Recounting the incident of the former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, under whose turner both scandals occurred, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee indicated that his contacts with the Russian Embassy had given him a different account of how the Russian-based vaccines were procured akin to what the government of Ghana was doing.
On the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, August 03, 2024, Mr. Ablakwa indicated that despite the Ministry denying payments to the imposters who came to Ghana as sheiks, it turned out that the State had lost huge sums of money to them as third party.
He has therefore asked the public to disregard the Health Ministry on its denial of making any payments to Service Auto Ghana Ltd. for the ambulance spare parts deal.
His comments follow an appearance of the Minister of Health, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, before the Government’s Assurances Committee to deny claims of some US$34.9 million being paid to the company partly owned and managed by two daughters of President Akufo-Addo.
“During the Sputnik V scandal when we told them that evidence we have suggests that Ghana has lost US$2.4billion paid to those shunky sheiks, imposters who came here, I had a meeting with the Russian Embassy to find out if the Ghanaian government, the Foreign Ministry, had contacted them. Sputnik V was a vaccine manufactured in Russia.
“Every other government was using bilateral channels and you get a better deal, you are assured of the efficacy and genuineness of the vaccine. Our Health Minister, when he finally appeared before the Ad hoc committee said he was under pressure, he wasn’t thinking straight and so decided to deal with these shunky shakes, clear imposters.
“It has now been confirmed that Ghana lost US$2.4million to those sheiks. So anytime the Health Ministry of Ghana tells you that a payment has not been made, please treat it with a pinch of salt,” Mr. Ablakwa had indicated.
Background
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, recently accused former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and former Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu of conspiring with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited to swindle the state in the botched deal.
Mr. Ablakwa alleged that Ofori-Atta approved the deal just five days before leaving office, raising suspicions of impropriety and questioning the company’s ability to deliver, given its recent incorporation.
Meanwhile, Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, has said that the Bank of Ghana has not made any payment in relation to the $34 million ambulance spare parts deal with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
Appearing before the Government Assurances Committee of Parliament on Thursday, August 01, 2024, Dr. Okoe Boye refuted claims that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited has already been paid $34 million.
“I spoke to one of the Deputy Governors who I had a working relationship with when I was at Health Insurance and the Deputy Governor made me aware that not even a dollar has been given to the provider.
“She used some terms that it is actually a letter of credit and that it is when the provider has actually performed, and supplied parts to certain tunes that they are empowered to pay for the work done. And so the governor made me understand that they have it with them, but they have not paid,” he indicated.
Health Ministry denies paying US$34.9m to Service Ghana Auto Group Ltd. for ambulance spare parts
