Audio By Carbonatix
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.
Latest Stories
-
Republic Bank Ghana, JoyNews launch 2026 Habitat Fair
1 minute -
Republic Bank becomes title sponsor of JoyNews Habitat Fair
9 minutes -
Prof Bokpin warns against political recruitment into civil service
14 minutes -
African unity is key to overcoming slavery’s enduring legacy – Dean Roberts Jnr
16 minutes -
Extended Producer Responsibility law to recognise and integrate informal waste collectors — EPA
18 minutes -
NADMO says UAE $1m donation can support more than 91,000 flood victims
22 minutes -
Private medical practitioners seek tax waivers on cancer treatment equipment
26 minutes -
Ghana spends 0.084% of expenditure on creative industry – JoyNews Research
36 minutes -
Hearts of Oak pull out of GHALCA Top-4 as Samartex take their place
37 minutes -
Mustapha Hamid trial to continue during legal vacation despite defence plea
42 minutes -
NAIMOS launches major operation to clear illegal mining along Birim River
44 minutes -
Trump says it would be ‘terrible mistake’ to remove Infantino
46 minutes -
Ghana has not moved beyond macroeconomic stability since 1992 – Prof Godfred Bokpin
49 minutes -
‘Support Kotoko Board or their wives may advise them to quit’ – Sarfo Duku
49 minutes -
Housing affordability, not supply is Ghana’s biggest challenge – Managing Director of Republic Bank
52 minutes