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The Ministry of Health has dismissed widely reported claims that it paid $34.9 million to service provider Ghana Auto Group Limited to procure fleets for the National Ambulance Service.
A press statement issued by the Ministry on July 25, 2024, clarified that the Office of the Chief of Staff requested the Ministry to explore ways to support the National Ambulance Service in maintaining the fleet of ambulances due to Parliament's refusal to approve the budget estimates of the Special Initiatives Development Secretariat for the 2023 fiscal year.
It further stated that a contract was signed on September 10, 2020, between the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives and Service Auto Group Ghana Limited for the provision of after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances.
"On September 10, 2020, the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives signed a contract with Service Auto Group Ghana Limited for the provision of after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances. The contract stipulated that the supplier shall provide the client with a projected budget for requisite spare parts and lubricants to ensure the smooth servicing and maintenance of the fleet. Since the inception of the contract, the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives has utilized a portion of its annual budget allocation to support the National Ambulance Service and fund the maintenance agreement. Following the dissolution of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, the Special Initiatives Development Secretariat took over the execution of the contract. On March 10, 2023, the Office of the Chief of Staff requested the Ministry of Health to explore ways to support the National Ambulance Service in maintaining the fleet of ambulances due to Parliament's refusal to approve the budget estimates of the Special Initiatives Development Secretariat for the 2023 fiscal year," it stated.
It noted that the Ministry of Health subsequently wrote to the Ministry of Finance requesting the establishment of letters of credit for an amount of $34,904,505.00 on behalf of Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the procurement of spare parts for the 307 units of ambulances.
The Ministry reiterated its commitment to ensuring a sustainable maintenance regime for all fleets procured for the National Ambulance Service to provide reliable, efficient, and safe emergency medical services.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has acknowledged a petition submitted by the MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on the $34.9 million spare parts deal awarded to Service Auto Group Ghana Limited.
According to the OSP, the petition will be acted upon if found to be within its purview.
"We acknowledge receipt of a filed complaint as titled above. The Special Prosecutor will direct the commencement of investigations if he determines that the issue is within the mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor. You may be contacted should the need arise. Please accept the compliments of my highest consideration," Kissi Agyebeng stated.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this in a post on social media on July 25, 2024, that the OSP has formally acknowledged his complaint on the US$34.9 million Ambulance Spare Parts Scandal.
"The Special Prosecutor has formally acknowledged my complaint on the US$34.9 million Ambulance Spare Parts Scandal. Let's see how things go from here. We shall do everything in our power to stop the imminent payment of US$24.9 million after Ken Ofori-Atta ordered the release of US$10 million to that shady company with presidential familial ties. Nothing will stop us from salvaging the battered public purse. State Capture shall surely be defeated! For God and Country," he noted.
JKB/OGB
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