Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, has urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to dismiss Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu.
The Minister, he claims, has not acted prudently in the acquisition of the Sputnik – V vaccine for the national immunization campaign.
Ghana has requested 3.4 million doses of the Sputnik V vaccine from two businessmen who are selling it to Ghana for $19 per dosage instead of the $10 per dosage on the worldwide market, according to the Norwegian daily newspaper Verdens Gang.
The result has sparked popular outrage, with the Minority in Parliament and others demanding for the treaty to be scrapped.
The government has indicated that it was unable to get the vaccinations directly from the manufacturer, necessitating the use of intermediaries, which explains why the price is greater than the regular Russian vaccine price.
However, in an interview with Citi News, Martin Kpebu said that the Health Minister has failed in this respect.
He said that the President should at the very least fire him.
“He should be aware that Ghanaians are quite watchful; thus, I believe the Health Minister has been too careless in this case, and the least the President can do is fire him. The President should know that we are furious with the Health Minister’s actions; he has shown no caution and has showed no sensitivity to how Ghanaians respond to financial issues.”
The Minority in Parliament is calling for the deal to be terminated immediately.
The government acquiring vaccinations for $19 per dosage instead of $10, according to Ranking Member of the Health Committee Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reeks of financial malfeasance and cost inflation.
“The minority in Parliament will urge the government to reconsider both terms of this contract with particular emphasis on price and work assiduously through proper diplomatic and approved channels to secure COVID-19 vaccines for Ghanaians.”
He also feels the agreement should have been approved by Parliament since it is an international accord.
“This contract is unconstitutional, null, and void and the government should abrogate and refrain from making any payment with respect to this contract before laying the entirety of the contract before Parliament for scrutiny and subsequent approval.”
Source: CITINEWSROOM
