The Ministry Of Health in debunking credence of the ‘shady’ ambulance contract, issued an immediate release admitting to awarding US$34.9 Million contract to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
In stating the facts regarding the transactions or payments of the said contract between the Ministry Of Health and Service Ghana Auto Group Limited the Health Ministry revealed that it was an arrangement between the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives and Service Auto Group Ghana Limited for the provision of after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances”.
the Ministry says the “contract stipulated that the supplier shall provide the client with a projected budget for requisite spare parts and lubricants to ensure the smooth servicing and maintenance of the fleet. Since the inception of the contract, the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives has utilized a portion of its annual budget allocation to support the National Ambulance Service and fund the maintenance agreement”.
It continued that “following the dissolution of the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, the Special Initiatives Development Secretariat took over the executive of the contract”.
However, “on March 10, 2023, the Office of the Chief of Staff requested the Ministry of Health to explore ways to support the National Ambulance Service in maintaining the fleet of ambulances due to Parliament’s refusal to approve the budget estimates of the Special Initiatives Development Secretariat for the 2023 fiscal year”.
Subsequently, “the Ministry of Health wrote to the Ministry of Finance requesting the establishment of letters of credit for an amount of $34,904,505.00 on behalf of Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the procurement of spare parts for the 307 units of ambulances”.
The “Ministry of Finance responded, indicating it could only fund up to $10 million of the requested amount and recommended that the Ministry of Health explore financing the difference through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)”.
Meanwhile the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, in his revelations echoed that government awarded the said ambulance spare parts contract to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, adding that the process leading to the awarding the contract and subsequent payments was due to it’s links to the daughters of President Nana Akufo Addo.
The MP added that the Finance Ministry has already paid an amount of 10 million dollars to the company on February 2024 by the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta in five (5) days to his departure from office.
As Ghanaians waited patiently for clarification on the said payment of 10 million dollars to the company, the Health Ministry remained adamantly silent.
Read the full immediate release below;
