Ablakwa petitions OSP to probe $34.9 million ambulance spare parts scandal

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor on the US$34.9 million ambulance spare parts scandal he alleged involving former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta.

According to Mr. Ablakwa, it is unacceptable that after 24 hours since his exposé, the government has been unable to speak and at least provide a breakdown of the US$113,695.45 it claims to be spending on spare parts for each ambulance when that amount can get a new fully-equipped modern ambulance.

In his latest exposé, Mr. Ablakwa accused Ken Ofori-Atta of shortchanging the state in a $34.9 million deal involving Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.

Mr. Ablakwa alleges that on February 9, 2024, Ken Ofori-Atta approved US$34,904,505.00 for the procurement of spare parts for 307 ambulances purchased by the government in 2019.

On the same day, Mr. Ofori-Atta instructed the Controller and Accountant-General to release US$10 million (GHS120,711,000.00), which was processed and received by Service Ghana Auto Group Limited on February 23, 2024.

Mr. Ablakwa claims that the transaction, which amounts to US$113,695.456 per ambulance, is excessively high.

He pointed out that this amount is more than the cost of many new, fully equipped Mercedes Benz ambulances.

The lawmaker, who disclosed these in a Facebook post, questioned the rationale behind such a costly deal for spare parts when the same amount could purchase new ambulances.