Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu says that most of his ministry’s responses were not taken into account when compiling the 2020 Auditor General’s report on COVID-19 expenditure.
According to the report, the Ministry of Health agreed to pay $4,049,460.12 for 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances in December 2021, but the ambulances were never delivered.
Details of the report, a total of US$607,419.02 was paid out of a total of US$4,049,460.12 for the ambulances to be delivered by January 15, 2022; however, no ambulance had been delivered as of November 28, 2022.
The Health Ministry also increased the cost of five contracts with a total contract sum of GH24,256,500.00 by GH4,017,000.00 through variation orders.
However, the sector minister is concerned that the Ministry’s responses were not taken into account.
Kwaku Agyemang Manu, speaking at the inauguration of the National Ambulance Service’s first-ever governing Board, stated that one of the measures taken was the procurement of more ambulances to supplement the existing ones.
“One thing is that when that report was completed, none of their responses were taken into account. We had to buy 36 ambulances, and the supplier came to ask for an extension until March. We were granted an extension, so we are still waiting for the supplier to deliver these ambulances. Because of the arrangements, some advance payment was made, and the remainder of the money will be paid to the supplier.”
“Apart from that, we were also trying to get some more ambulances in addition to the one that the President in his own magnanimity and wisdom pre-empted COVID-19 to bring them into the system to handle the emergency cases during COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the newly formed board, Nana Wiafe Ababio, has pledged to work tirelessly to ensure that the National Ambulance Service provides quality emergency services.
“The Board members and I are aware of the National Ambulance Service’s and its staff’s efforts in building and expanding the service since its inception without a governing board. It will therefore be the board’s responsibility to ensure that all of the successes achieved thus far are sustained and expanded.”
