Ministry of Health Rejects $34.9m Payment to Service Ghana Auto Group for Car Parts
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Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, NHIA Boss
This follows allegations that former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, approved the expenditure of $34.9 million on spare parts for ambulances, which were claimed to be overpriced and misappropriated.
The controversy began when Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, revealed that Ken Ofori-Atta was involved in a US$34.9 million (GH¢538 million) deal for servicing 307 ambulances.
Ablakwa disclosed that Ofori-Atta, in collaboration with former Minister of Health Kweku Agyemang-Manu, facilitated the payment to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
In a post on X, Ablakwa stated that Ofori-Atta instructed the Controller and Accountant-General to release US$10 million, equivalent to GH¢120,711,000.
Ablakwa further revealed that deeper parliamentary oversight through GIFMIS assessments confirmed that even before this US$34.9 million scandal, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited had received a colossal GH¢115,342,573 in payments for subpar servicing of the ambulances between 2020 and 2023. He added that so far, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited is set to make an astonishing GH¢653 million from these ambulances.
The amount spent is alleged to be significantly higher than what would typically be expected for such items. This discrepancy has raised serious concerns among the public and opposition parties, fueling accusations of corruption and mismanagement.
In response, the Ministry of Health issued a statement on Thursday, July 25, 2024, dismissing these allegations and expressing its willingness to support any efforts to bring further clarity to the issue.
Key Points:
- Allegations claim Ken Ofori-Atta approved a $34.9 million expenditure on overpriced spare parts for ambulances.
- Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed the deal involving Ofori-Atta and former Health Minister Kweku Agyemang-Manu.
- Ofori-Atta allegedly instructed the release of US$10 million (GH¢120,711,000) for the payment.
- Parliamentary oversight revealed Service Ghana Auto Group Limited received GH¢115,342,573 for subpar servicing from 2020 to 2023.
- Service Ghana Auto Group Limited is set to make GH¢653 million from the ambulances.
- The spending is alleged to be significantly higher than typical costs, raising public and opposition concerns.
- The Ministry of Health denied paying $34.9 million to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
- The Ministry stated that all documentation is public and supports efforts for further clarification.
- The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable maintenance regime for the National Ambulance Service.
