The Member of Parliament representing North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has raised serious questions over the alleged illegal trading of ambulance spare parts. Procurement contracts worth $34.9 million (GH₵538 million).
Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, July 22, he maintained that the procurement of spare parts for ambulances in 2019 was not value for money.
Ablakwa noted that the huge 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 ambulance was commissioned in 2019, raising doubts about the company’s capacity to provide ambulance services.
“If you break it down, $34.9 million works out to $113,000 per ambulance. Today you can order a brand new, fully equipped Mercedes Benz ambulance for less. So why spend $113,000 on spare parts when you can get a brand new, fully equipped ambulance?” he asked.
Ablakwa also noted that more thorough parliamentary monitoring through the GIFMIS assessment had established that even prior to the $34.9 million deal, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited had received a staggering amount of 115,342,573 Ghana cedis between 2020 and 2023 for poor ambulance service.
“This means that so far, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited alone has made a whopping GH₵653 million from these ambulances, a figure that is more than double what the ambulances cost them in 2019,” he added.
He said the company received more than double the value of the ambulances, which left him questioning whether the vehicles were purchased to save lives or as part of a “create, loot and share” scheme.
Related article: Ablakwa sues OSP over Ofori-Atta’s ‘dubious’ $34.9m ambulance spare parts deal
Following these allegations, Mr Ablakwa has indicated his intention to petition the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate the ambulance spare parts procurement deal.
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