The civil society organization Research Center for Policy Advocacy and Governance (ReCPAG) has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to demonstrate leadership and honesty by dismissing Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu.
This, RECPAG thinks, will be consistent with the President’s ongoing rhetoric about combating corruption and safeguarding the public purse.
These were included in an August 9 statement.
It was released in response to a report by a nine-member parliamentary investigation committee established in the aftermath of a bungled deal between the Ministry of Health and Emirati middleman Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum over the procurement of Sputnik V vaccines for Ghana.
Minister Agyeman Manu acknowledged during the committee hearing that he made a hasty judgment considering the circumstances at the time.
“In view of the above, ReCPAG wishes to register its disappointment in the Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s led committee for failing to recommend the appropriate sanctions of firing and further prosecution of the Health Minister in their report aside urging the Ministry of Finance to take steps to retrieve monies paid to Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum,” the statement signed by ReCPAG’s Executive Director Mumuni Believer Likpalmor said.
“Furthermore, it is reprehensible and unpardonable to note that the Hon. Minister of Health, who once chaired the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament as an astute legislator and a Chartered Accountant, could willfully and flagrantly disregard constitutional requirement and procurement processes in such egregious manner.” The civil society group said instead of resigning, the Dormaa Central Member of Parliament appears bent on staying at the post.
“ReCPAG, therefore, wishes to add our voice to the numerous calls by well-meaning Ghanaians that, if Hon Kwaku Agyemang-Manu fails to resign in order to save any modicum of decency he can muster following this debacle, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo should for once show leadership and candor by firing his Health Minister in line with his continuous rhetoric that he will fight corruption and protect the public purse.
“The continuous stay in office of Hon Kwaku Agyemang Manu only confirms a no-end in sight to the damning corruption scandals of the Akufo-Addo government and the deep-seated public suspicion that he did not act alone but enjoyed the support of the President and other high-ups in government in a grand agenda to milk the Ghanaian taxpayer.”
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