By Kekeli K. Blamey
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has announced his intention to petition the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Monday, July 22, to investigate an alleged shady ambulance spare parts procurement deal worth $34.9 million (GH₵538 million).
Mr. Ablakwa revealed this in a Facebook post on Monday, July 22, supported by documentary evidence. He accuses former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and former Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu of collaborating with a private entity to defraud the state.
He alleges that the Finance Minister approved the deal five days before his removal from office.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, the beneficiary company, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, was incorporated on April 24, 2020, a year after the ambulances were commissioned in 2019, raising questions about their capacity to service ambulances.
“Five days before leaving the Ministry of Finance after President Akufo-Addo’s reshuffle, Ken Ofori-Atta decided to leave with one more unforgettable act. In a conspiracy with the outgoing Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the two ministers caused more financial loss. From the Sputnik V scandal to the mismanagement of Covid funds, they didn’t think they had wreaked enough havoc,” Mr. Ablakwa stated.
He detailed that on February 9, 2024, Ofori-Atta approved $34,904,505 to be paid to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the procurement of spare parts for the 307 ambulances purchased in 2019. The same day, the Finance Minister instructed the Controller and Accountant-General to release $10 million (GHS120,711,000), which was processed and received by Service Ghana Auto Group Limited on February 23, 2024.
Mr. Ablakwa highlighted that the transaction translates to $113,695.456 per ambulance. Checks with Mercedes Benz ambulance dealers indicate that this amount exceeds the cost of fully equipped new ambulances.
“Why sign a deal of $113,695.456 for spare parts when a new fully equipped modern Mercedes Benz ambulance costs the same or less? What happened to value for money and love for country?” he questioned.
Parliamentary oversight through GIFMIS assessments also reveals that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited has received GHS115,342,573 for shoddy servicing of the ambulances between 2020 and 2023.
“In total, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited will make GHS653 million from these ambulances, more than double the $54 million cost in 2019,” Mr. Ablakwa asserted.
He criticized the government for selecting a company indicted in an Auditor General’s report for inflating invoices, using National Ambulance Service staff for maintenance while receiving payments, breaching maintenance schedules, and having a non-beneficial MoU with the National Ambulance Service.
“How can a government aware of this damning audit report still award an even bigger contract of $34.9 million? It’s shocking that a government pursuing the Minority Leader, Hon. Dr. Ato Forson, for allegedly causing a financial loss of €2.37 million, is causing a financial loss of $34.9 million through another ambulance transaction. Tomorrow is indeed pregnant,” Mr. Ablakwa concluded.
