The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised serious questions over the alleged shady ambulance spare parts procurement deal worth $34.9 million (GH₵538 million).
In an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, July 22, he argued that there was no value for money in the procurement of the ambulance spare parts in 2019.
Mr Ablakwa pointed out that the substantial amount spent on these spare parts could have been better utilised to purchase new ambulances that are fully equipped and fit for purpose.
He also highlighted that the beneficiary company, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, was only incorporated on April 24, 2020, a year after the ambulances had been commissioned in 2019, casting doubt on the company’s capacity to service the ambulances.
“When you break it down, $34.9 million is $113,000 per ambulance. Today, you can even order a fully equipped brand new Mercedes Benz ambulance for less. So why are we spending $113,000 on spare parts when we can actually get a brand new fully equipped ambulance?” he questioned.
Mr Ablakwa also noted that a deeper parliamentary oversight through GIFMIS assessments confirmed that even before this $34.9 million deal, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited had received a staggering GH₵ 115,342,573 in payments for substandard servicing of the ambulances between 2020 and 2023.
“This means, so far, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited alone will be making a mind-boggling GH₵653 million from these ambulances. This figure is more than double how much the ambulances cost us in 2019,” he added.
According to him, the company received more than twice the value of the ambulances, prompting him to question whether the ambulances were purchased to save lives or as part of a "create, loot, and share" scheme.
Read also: Ablakwa heads to OSP over Ofori-Atta’s $34.9m ‘shady’ ambulance spare parts deal
In response to these allegations, Ablakwa has announced his intention to petition the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the ambulance spare parts procurement deal.
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