According to sighted documents, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, the Dubai-based businessman approached by Ghana’s Ministry of Health to purchase 300,000 doses of the Sputnik V vaccine, has returned $2,470,000 to Ghana.
Sheikh Al Maktoum said in a letter that no money had been tapped on the Letter of Credit.
Additionally, he said that the Letter of Credit had expired as of June 2021.
Sheikh Al Maktoum is awaiting confirmation of payment after the monies have been deposited into the government bank account.
Ghana has already received 20,000 of the anticipated 300,000 doses of the vaccination.
Sheikh Al Maktoum received $2,850,000 for his efforts, which was deducted from an anticipated $5,700,000.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, has come under criticism over this deal.
BACKGROUND
The issue started when a Norwegian newspaper, VG, revealed that the government was procuring 3.4 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik-V vaccines via the use of intermediaries.
However, this came at a cost of $19 in addition to the factory price of $10.
This sparked demands for the purchase deal to be canceled.
Previously, the Minister stated that the state had not paid for the vaccine.
The Parliamentary Health Committee had also stated that the government was not being ripped off in the deal, with its chairman, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, stating that the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the procurement of the Sputnik-V vaccines require the use of middlemen, whose activities will result in an increase in the original price.
Additionally, Dr. Afriyie said that no consignment has been received.
However, a parliamentary commission established to investigate the transaction determined that Sheikh Maktoum received $2,850,000, or 50% of the $5,700,000 due to him for the delivery of 300,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine, despite the fact that only 20,000 doses were delivered.
According to Ghana’s Health Minister, Sheikh Ahmed terminated the contract due to his inability to fulfill his obligations.
CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
There have been demands for Mr. Agyeman-Manu to quit as Health Minister in the wake of the disclosures.
Civil Society Organizations and observers have unanimously said that the minister has no explanation or justification for the procurement violations.
The National Democratic Congress, the major opposition party, is likewise insistent that the minister quit and has even suggested that the Finance Minister bear some of the responsibility.
On social media, the hashtag #AgyemanManuMustGo trended, with Ghanaians demanding that the Minister resign due to his involvement in the transaction.
They attacked the Minister’s defense during his July 19 appearance before a parliamentary committee investigating the transaction, during which he said, among other things, that he was desperate and confused when he supervised the vaccines sale.
This occurred as Ghana lamented its inability to obtain vaccines in time to fulfill its 20 million vaccination goal.
SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTER
Mr. Agyeman-Manu has garnered some support from government officials and lawmakers.
While the opposition National Democratic Congress is insistent that he resign, the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, for example, said that Ghanaians were being callous.
He said this because he believed Mr. Agyeman-Manu was doing all possible to ensure the country’s vaccine supply.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Majority Leader and head of the committee that investigated the bungled transaction, said that punitive measures against the Health Minister would be unnecessary.
Though the Attorney General recommended against the transaction, Mr. Afenyo-Markin believed the Minister was unable to utilize the proper procedures due to the urgency of the circumstances.
In his sole public remarks on the Health Minister after the scandal, President Akufo-Addo chuckled, stating that Mr. Agyeman-Manu had suffered a great deal at his ministry.
Mr. Agyeman-Manu is presently on a two-week leave to address personal matters.
Read Also: Procurement irregularities exceeded GH846 million in 2020, as per the Auditor-General’s report
