The Research Center for Policy Advocacy and Governance (ReCPAG), a think tank, has lashed the Minister of Health for exposing his ignorance in his disregard for procurement process, a constituentional requirement.
This follows the damning details contained in the report of the Nine-member Parliamentary Committee set up to investigate the purchase of Sputnik-V vaccines by Kwaku Agyemang-Manu.
ReCPAG could not understand why Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, the Health Minister, who once chaired the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament as an astute legislator and a Chartered Accountant, could exhibit such incompetence in the purchase of Sputnik-V vaccines for the fight against COVID-19.
A statement authored by its Executive Director, Mumuni Believer Likpalmor on Monday, August 9 and copied the Awake News said,”The committee conducted its hearing on the subject matter before it, which was keenly followed by the Ghanaian people. The report, which was subsequently debated on the floor of Parliament, concluded among other things that, the Minister, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu
failed to seek prior Parliamentary approval in accordance with Article 181(5) of the 1992
Constitution or adopt due emergency processes under a certificate of urgency in accordance with the Standing Orders of Parliament”.
“The Minister also failed to secure approval from the board of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) under Sections 40 and 41 of Act 663, before executing the international agreements. The Committee further found that, Hon. Kwaku Agyemang Manu lied under oath when he denied knowledge of payment of any amount to the Quatari intermediary by name Sheihk Al Maktoum, yet in fact, an amount of $2.85 million, a Cedi equivalent of GH¢16,331,640.00 representing 50 percent of the contract sum of $5.7 million, has been paid to the said intermediary”, the statement added.
In view of its observation as captured in the report, ReCPAG perceived that the Minister only
sought to fleece the Ghanaian taxpayer by agreeing to the unit cost of $19 per dose of the
Sputnik-V vaccine, which amounts to 90 percent and $18.50 (80.5%), which were being offered by
Al Maktoum and S. L. Global respectively, as against the factory price of $10.
Describing that as committing perjury by the Minister, the group said Mr Agyemang-Manu acted in bad faith which occasioned a huge financial loss to the state through his acts and omissions, “and must
therefore face the consequences thereof.”
Expressing its disappointment in the Alexander Afenyo Markins-led Committee for failing to recommend appropriate sanctions of firing and further prosecution of the Health Minister in their report, aside urging the Ministry of Finance to take steps to retrieve monies paid to Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, ReCPAG wondered why the Minister would not bury his face in his palm by willingly resigning his position.
“It does appear that Mr Kwaku Agyemang is rather bent on holding onto his position in the face of such wanton betrayal of the public trust and his fiduciary responsibility to the Ghanaian people”.
ReCPAG, therefore, wish to add “our voice to the numerous calls by well-meaning Ghanaians that if Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu fails to resign in order to save any modicum of decency he can muster following this debacle, the President, Nana Akuffo Addo should, for once, show leadership and candor by firing his Health Minister in line with his continuous rhetoric that he will fight corruption and protect the public purse”.
“The continuous stay in office of Hon. Kwaku Agyemang-Manu only confirms a no-end in sight to the damning corruption scandals of the Akufo-Addo government and the deep-seated public suspicion that he did not act alone but enjoyed the support of the President and other
high-ups in government in a grand agenda to milk the Ghanaian taxpayer, the statement said.
By: Umar Sheriff Musah/ awakenewsroom.com
