Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu and Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, has exposed a $34.9 million scandal involving Ghana’s Ministry of Finance.
In a Facebook post, Ablakwa revealed that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, days before his exit, approved this payment to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for ambulance spare parts.
He described this act as a parting “bitter lesson” from Ofori-Atta and outgoing Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.
Ablakwa criticized the $34.9 million payment for spare parts, equivalent to $113,695.456 per ambulance, which he claims exceeds the cost of new ambulances.
“Why sign a rip-off and an unconscionable sweetheart deal… when you can buy a new fully equipped modern Mercedes Benz ambulance for the same value, and even less?” he questioned.
He also pointed out that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited was established in April 2020, long after the initial purchase of the ambulances, and had a history of inflated invoices and breached maintenance schedules according to an Auditor-General’s report.
Despite this, the company received significant government contracts without competitive bidding.
Ablakwa called for the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate, asserting, “Stinky create, loot and share shall be fearlessly defeated!” He highlighted the urgency of addressing this corruption to protect public funds and maintain governmental integrity.
