The Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has indicated that the committee that probed the Sputnik V vaccine deal was interested in getting back monies paid for non-supplied vaccines than the entire deal.

 “As a committee, our main concern was in respect of the monies paid for the unsupplied doses and we made that clear in our recommendation, that steps should be taken to recover those funds,” he said on Saturday.

Mr Afenyo-Markin who was also the chairman of the committee was on JoyNews’ analysis program, Newsfile to discuss the aftermath of the committee’s investigation.

The revelation by the ad hoc committee on the payment for the non-supplied vaccines prompted calls from several quarters for the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu to resign.

But when asked if the committee chair holds similar sentiment, Mr Afenyo-Markin did not declare his stance but only stated the committee focused on what the minister said.

“Although you did not recommend in your report, from all you have heard the session of Ghanaians say, should this minister go?” the host, Samsom Lardi Anyenini quizzed.

“From where I sit, the man came with a story that at a particular point in time, death rates were going up, infection rates were going up, government to government sources, bilateral arrangements that had been put in place for vaccines had failed us.

“They were now talking about six months delay, he needed to take action, he needed to make vaccines available for Ghanaians to vaccinate,” Mr Afenyo-Markin answered.

He continued, “In the process, he concedes that he relied heavily on the committee that had been put in place to manage this Covid situation. Subsequent to that, he looks out for a private-sector source because all [sort] of people were promising was that we could supply and all that.”

“The Minister never said he engaged the Russian government, and when that failed, he decided to rely on private sources; he never said that,” he said.

According to him, Mr Agyeman-Manu was candid with his answers to the committee stressing “all the letters to them, the request for bank accounts, and all that and we have every information.”

“We have done our work, we think that in good faith, he [the Health Minister] meant well,” the chairman said.

Therefore, he said those raising allegations, such as legal practitioners, Martin Kpebu and Kofi Bentil should take time to read the full report before concluding.

Mr Afenyo-Markin on last Thursday said that the committee’s recommendation was to retrieve the money, therefore, once the monies had been refunded to the country, matters should be called to rest.

This was after he confirmed a refund of $2.47 million from the United Arab Emirates-based agent, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum to the country’s coffers.