A Public Health, and Democracy and Development Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong has expressed grave concerns over the government’s contract awarded for the maintenance of 307 ambulances procured under the One Constituency, One Ambulance policy.
His criticism follows an exposé by Honorable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, which brought to light several alarming issues regarding the handling of the ambulance maintenance contract, including allegations of procurement rigging and corruption.
Dr. Sarpong began his critique by recounting that in March 2019, he questioned the government on whether a service contract with a warranty had been established for the ambulances ordered under the policy.
He indicated that, in his questioning, he urged the government to engage local agents of Mercedes Benz, who possess the requisite expertise for servicing these vehicles.
However, the renowned Pharmacist indicated that his suggestions were met with significant backlash, with critics labeling him a “naysayer”.
Expressing concerns over the revelations made by the National Democratic Congress Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Honorable Ablakwa on the contract awarded for the maintenance of the 307 ambulances, Dr Sarpong underscored how he has been vindicated in his initial concerns.
“It has been revealed that a company, which had been indicted in the Auditor General’s report, was awarded a contract worth US$34 million to import spare parts for the ambulances. This same company, which was servicing one of the ambulances, was previously found to be using it to transport cement bags, raising serious questions about its credibility and commitment to maintaining the integrity of the ambulances”.
Dr. Kwame Asiedu Sarpong, D&D Fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)
Criteria for the Award of Contract Raises Questions
Dr. Sarpong questioned the criteria used in awarding the contract to a company that was incorporated in 2020, a year after the ambulances had been purchased.
He expressed skepticism about the company’s expertise and the process through which it was selected as the maintenance partner for the National Ambulance Service.
“How can a company incorporated in 2020, a year after the ambulances had been purchased, have the requisite expertise and how was that demonstrated before they were contracted as maintenance partners for the National Ambulance Service?” he asked.
The decision to award the maintenance contract to a company with such a dubious background, Dr Srapong noted raised significant concerns about the government’s commitment to ensuring the proper maintenance of critical healthcare infrastructure.
The North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in the latest expose, revealed that Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Finance Minister, approved a staggering US$34,904,505.00, by a letter dated February 9th, 2024, to be paid to the discredited Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the procurement of spare parts for the 307 ambulances purchased by the government in 2019.
Honorable Ablakwa pointed out that, on the same day, February 9th, 2024, the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, directed the Controller and Accountant-General to release an additional US$10 million, equivalent to GH₵ 120,711,000.00, in a move that raised further questions about the government’s financial management.
Hon. Ablakwa expressed dismay and questioned why Ken Ofori-Atta would approve a dubious and exorbitant deal worth US$113,695,456.00 for spare parts when, for the same amount or even less, he could procure brand new, fully equipped, state-of-the-art Mercedes Benz ambulances, suggesting a potentially gross misuse of public funds.
Honorable Ablakwa’s exposé has sparked widespread outrage among civil society leaders, healthcare professionals, and the general public.
Many have called for an immediate review of the contract and a thorough investigation into the process that led to its awarding.
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