Josiah
The Ministry of Health has addressed concerns raised by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, about the service contract between the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives and Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
In a statement, the Ministry explained that the contract, signed on September 10, 2020, was for after-sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances.
“The Ministry of Health would like to clarify that the Service Provider, Ghana Auto Group Limited, has not been paid an amount of $34.9 million as widely reported,” the statement said.
The Ministry emphasized its commitment to maintaining a sustainable service regime for all fleets procured for the National Ambulance Service, ensuring reliable, efficient, and safe emergency medical services.
“All documentation covering this transaction is a matter of public record and can be accessed by the public,” the statement added.
The Ministry also expressed its readiness to support any effort that would provide further clarity on the issue for the public.
“We are committed to transparency and accountability in all our transactions,” stated the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry.
The statement further explained that the Ministry of Finance had funded only up to $10 million of the requested amount for the procurement of spare parts and recommended that the Ministry of Health explore financing the difference through the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
However, the NHIA indicated that it could not fund the cost of the spare parts procurement, as it was not included in the allocation formula approved by Parliament.
Source:Omanghana.com
