The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s exposé regarding the alleged misuse of public funds, sum of US$34. 9 million for the procurement of spare parts for the 307 ambulances purchased by the government in 2019 has sparked widespread outrage among civil society leaders, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
This decision, approved by a letter dated February 9th, 2024, has ignited a firestorm of public uproar and sentiment, leading to widespread calls for an immediate review of the contract and a thorough investigation into the process that led to its awarding.
The exposé by Honorable Ablakwa highlighted several alarming issues regarding the handling of the ambulance maintenance contract, including allegations of procurement rigging, nepotism, and corruption.
The “discredited Service Ghana Auto Group Limited”, the company at the center of the controversy, has come under intense scrutiny, with questions being raised about its qualifications and the legitimacy of its involvement in the maintenance of the ambulances.
Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, a renowned Pharmacist and Democracy and Development Fellow in Public Health at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), in a scathing critique, vehemently criticized the government’s handling of the ambulance maintenance contract.
In his remarks, Dr. Sarpong decried the contract’s award through sole sourcing, describing the scheme as deliberate and indicative of a larger, more sinister plan.
“Right from when the 307 ambulances were ordered, the plan was in place to award a sweet deal contract by sole sourcing. This was why those who acted on behalf of Ghana never went into a service or maintenance contract with Mercedes Benz the ambulance manufacturer or any of their subsidiaries or agents in Ghana.
“Rather we waited a full year after the equipment was delivered to enter into an illegal contract with a company with no track record”.
Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, a renowned Pharmacist, and Democracy and Development Fellow in Public Health at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Dr. Sarpong expressed his suspicion that the scheme was designed to breach the warranty clauses on the medical vehicles, thereby creating an opportunity to purchase replacement parts through procurement deals at inflated prices on the open market than it will get from the source.
He questioned and demanded an explanation of why and how currently a brand-new upgraded version of the ambulances costs approximately US$80K whilst the parts the country is purchasing to service the fleet in 2019 specification is approximately US$113K, US$33K more than a 2024 new ambulance.
The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development D&D Fellow in Public Health further criticized the reckless financial management displayed in the scandal, highlighting the burden it places on a country already grappling with debt.
“Surely, those who cooked this scheme are very cruelly minded. This is why when I raised concerns about the lack of a service contract in an interview on Newsfile with Samson some rabid minds were set loose on social media to insult me and all my descendants and ancestors.
“What we must all remember is these monies that are being fleeced off us are money we don’t have but add to our debt. A broke country mustn’t be this reckless”.
Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, a renowned Pharmacist, and Democracy and Development Fellow in Public Health at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Maintenance of Ambulances
The maintenance of ambulances, Dr. Sarpong emphasized, is not the same as maintaining ordinary vehicles. “Ambulances are not ordinary vehicles, and their maintenance schedules are standards-specific,” Dr. Sarpong explained.
He pointed out that ambulances are equipped with specialized medical devices that require strict adherence to specific maintenance schedules.
These, Dr Sarpong noted include equipment such as defibrillators, oxygen tanks, suction units, ventilators, monitors, stretchers, and restraints, adding that each piece of equipment has a set service schedule to ensure it is functioning optimally and safely.
Dr. Sarpong also outlined the necessary compliance standards for vehicle and medical equipment maintenance in Ghana, emphasizing that any institution contracted to provide maintenance services for the Ghana Ambulance Service must have a wide range of expertise and a proven track record.
“Looking at the information on this company US$10 million was paid to, I wonder if they have certification from all our statutory bodies to undertake the servicing of these vehicles.
“We need to check their certification status with the Food and Drugs Authority and Ghana Standards Authority as a minimum as this conversation progresses. Unless of course there are other contracts with other organizations for the maintenance of the medical equipment we are yet to discover”.
Dr Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, a renowned Pharmacist, and Democracy and Development Fellow in Public Health at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
The public outcry and demands for a thorough investigation into the ambulance maintenance contract reflect a growing concern over corruption and mismanagement in Ghana’s public sector.
Dr. Sarpong’s detailed critique and call for an investigation underscore the need for transparency and accountability in government contracts, particularly those involving public health and safety.
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