Health Minister Dr Bernard Okoe Boye has assured that he will act judiciously to protect the country's resources and adhere to financial rules.

According to him, he will act judiciously in protecting state assets as a public servant.

Dr Okoe Boye made this commitment when he appeared before Parliament’s Assurance Committee on Thursday, August 1.

He was responding to questions from the Chairman of the Assurance Committee as he was asked to commit not to releasing any more money to Service Auto Group.

The Chairman, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, however, was not entirely satisfied with the assurance and requested Dr Okoe Boye to elaborate.

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.

He also wondered why the government awarded the contract to a company that had been indicted in a report by the Auditor General.

Read also: Health Ministry replies Ablakwa; says $34.9m ambulance spare parts deal signed in 2020, not 2024

In his defence, Dr Okoe Boye stated that Service Auto Group has not yet been paid, despite the Finance Ministry authorising payment for the servicing of some ambulances.

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

Read also: We’ve not engaged in any wrongdoing as falsely alleged by Ablakwa – Service Auto Group

Meanwhile, Service Auto Group Ghana Limited has responded to allegations made by Mr Ablakwa regarding the $34.9 million (GH₵538 million) ambulance spare parts procurement deal.

In a statement issued on Thursday, August 1, the company described these claims as false.

The statement clarified that all companies involved in the transaction adhered to competitive procurement processes, maintaining integrity and complying with due legal processes.

Service Auto Group refuted the assertion that it was "handpicked," stating that it participated in a competitive procurement process alongside 16 companies and was selected on merit to procure and provide after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service.