Ambulance Saga: Okoe-Boye assures Ghanaians to not pay additional funds to Service Auto Group

Ghana's Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye has pledged his commitment to prudently protect the country's resources and follow financial regulations as a public servant.

He made these pronouncements when he testified before Parliament's Assurance Committee on Thursday, August 1.

He was replying to queries from the Chairman of the Assurance Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa who requested him to pledge not to release any additional funds to Service Auto Group.

Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa, however, was not entirely satisfied with the assurance and requested Dr Okoe Boye to reassure the general public.

The Health Minister clarified, “Honourable Chair, with all due respect, because of the matters surrounding this arrangement, for an officer who is connected to the same, I will not even make further payments or commitments.

"Somehow, that in itself brings you into the matter. What I am assuring you is that I know I am accountable to the state and those who appointed me, and so just as you would expect from me, I will only act in a manner that is in line with the financial rules and be very judicious with how I apply resources.”

This assurance comes in response to concerns raised by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa about potential corruption in the ambulance procurement deal, prompting him to petition the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Mr Ablakwa pointed out that the deal was hastily approved by the Finance Minister just five days before his removal from office.

The contract included after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances secured by the government in 2019.

He also questioned the legitimacy of the beneficiary company, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, which was incorporated on April 24, 2020—one year after the ambulances were commissioned—raising doubts about their capacity to service the ambulances.

Again, he questioned why the government awarded the contract to a corporation implicated in the Auditor General's report. 

In his defence, Dr Okoe Boye indicated that Service Auto Group had yet to be paid, despite the Finance Ministry authorizing payment for the servicing of certain ambulances.

He explained that the Bank of Ghana has confirmed that no money has been disbursed to the group as of yet. 

Service Auto Group Ghana Limited on their part have reacted to Mr Ablakwa's charges about the $34.9 million (GH₵538 million) ambulance replacement parts purchase contract and have described it as baseless In a statement released on Thursday, August 1, 2024.

According to them, all entities involved in the transaction followed competitive procurement standards.

They refuted they also refuted the claim that it was "handpicked," stating that it competed with 16 other companies and was chosen on merit to procure and provide after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.

Source : Lead News Online