On Monday, July 19, the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, testified before a nine-member bipartisan committee established by Parliament to investigate the bungled deal between the Ghanaian government and Emirati middleman Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum to purchase Sputnik V vaccines.
It was the Minister’s second appearance before the committee, after his appearance on the first day of session on Thursday, July 15.
However, when the Minister was asked who initially contacted who for the delivery of the expensive vaccines to Ghana, his response caused uncertainty.
Mr Agyeman Manu, Member of Parliament for Dormaa Central, informed the committee that he initially called the Sheikh’s office, contrary to his press release on Wednesday, June 9 that the Sheikh’s office approached the government.
“I don’t see where this confusion arises,” he told the committee. “Maybe, let me go further to explain. The initial contact to the Sheikh was on a phone call. In my desperation to get vaccines, when my normal channels were failing, I was talking to people, Ghanaians and I can’t remember who really gave me the indication of the likely supplies from Al Maktoum.”
The Chair of the Committee, however, requested clarification from the Minister after stating that he had contacted the Sheikh’s office.
Mr Agyemang Manu subsequently said, “Honourable Chair, I think I am even getting more confused…
I think I am even getting a little bit more confused.”
However, the Committee’s Chair, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, emphasized that “the use of certain words in the context of the law and the use of certain words in the context of public communication must be harmonized so that nobody doubts your integrity or that we are not also left in doubt.”
The committee is investigating the circumstances behind the government’s decision to engage in a contract with the Sheikh without obtaining Parliamentary permission in order to get the vaccinations at a cost of $19 per dosage rather than the manufacturer price of $10.
According to the Health Minister, the contract has now been cancelled.
Related Article: Government cancels contract with Emirati Sheikh to purchase expensive Sputnik V vaccines
SOURCE: ATLFM ONLINE
