North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged a corruption scandal involving the Akufo-Addo administration. He claims that a shady ambulance procurement deal worth 34.9 million dollars (GH₵538 million) was facilitated by the former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the former Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.
Ablakwa has revealed that the company involved, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, was incorporated in April 2020. He has criticized the high cost of the spare parts procurement for 307 ambulances, stating that the amount paid for each ambulance’s spare parts is significantly higher than the cost of new fully equipped ambulances available in the market.
He has raised concerns about the lack of a competitive procurement process and insufficient due diligence on the company’s directors. This adds to the growing list of corruption allegations against the Akufo-Addo administration.
“A recent assessment has shown that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited received large payments for poorly servicing ambulances between 2020 and 2023, totaling GHS115,342,573. This means the company could make a huge profit of GHS653 million from these ambulances, more than double their original cost in 2019.
An audit report found that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited issued inflated invoices, used National Ambulance Service staff for maintenance while receiving payments themselves, consistently ignored maintenance schedules and procedures, and did not benefit the National Ambulance Service as agreed.
It’s concerning that the government, despite knowing about these issues, went ahead and awarded an even bigger contract worth US$34.9 million (GHS538 million) to the same company that had previously not delivered value for money. This kind of reckless spending could cause real financial losses.
It’s surprising that a government previously involved in pursuing corruption charges is now engaged in its own questionable transactions.
I plan to ask the Special Prosecutor to investigate this matter. We will fight corruption boldly. For the good of our country, Ghana comes first.”
