Fresh allegations by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, indicate that the contract for the procurement of ambulances by the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government was handed to companies with direct links to the first family.
In his latest epistle on the running ambulance story, Okudzeto Ablakwa alleged that the government awarded the purchasing contracts to eight companies, six of which, he claims, were established between April and September 2017.
The North Tongu lawmaker claims that one of the companies, Elok Consult and Services Limited, has its directors as Stephen Okoro, who allegedly is a son-in-law of President Akufo-Addo, and his brother, Solomon Okereke. “The companies used by the presidential familial gang are: Elok Consult and Services Limited; BEFT Engineering Works Limited; Bluemix Company Limited; Prestige Era Company Limited; RDC Company Limited; Luxury World Auto Group Limited; and Quality Suppliers and Builders Company Limited. “Instructively, a majority, 6 out of the 8 companies, were formed between April and September 2017 — the year Akufo-Addo became President of Ghana. All 8 companies have no track record and expertise in the importation of ambulances.
“Elok Consult and Services Limited was incorporated on 25th July, 2017. The directors are Stephen Okoro, the man who gave President Akufo-Addo his first granddaughter, and another gentleman who used the name Solomon Okereke for the company registration. Remember, the politically exposed Stephen Okoro is also a business partner of Gyankroma Akufo-Addo.
They have incorporated numerous companies together, as I revealed in Part 2,” parts of his post read. Okudzeto Ablakwa also questioned the figure disclosed by then Minister for Special Development Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson, stating that the amount Ghana splurged is not a true reflection of what he considers to be the actual value of the ambulances.
In a detailed and mathematical breakdown of the figures, Okudzeto Ablakwa arrived at the conclusion that the US$54.3 million paid by Ghana should have at least fetched the country 678 ambulances. “From page 2 (paragraph 4) of the Auditor-General’s Performance Audit, government officials told auditors that the 307 Mercedes Benz ambulances were procured at a total amount of US$54.3 million. (Performance Audit attached).
This figure of US$54.3 million is consistent with what then Special Development Initiatives Minister, Hawa Koomson, repeated to the Ghanaian media. “Meanwhile, page 24 (paragraph 46) of the same Performance Audit states that a unit price of the ambulance is US$80,000.00. (Performance Audit attached). At US$80,000.00 for one ambulance, the 307 ambulances should give us a total of US$24,560,000.00 and not US$54.3 million.
“This really means that the procurement of the ambulances was unconscionably inflated by a scary US$29,740,000.00. The wickedly padded figure of US$29.7 million is more than the actual cost of all the 307 ambulances. “Even if you add a 10% insurance premium of US$8,000.00 per ambulance, the procurement of the 307 ambulances would still be inflated by a massive US$27,284,000.00. Note, however, the Auditor-General discovered that insurance premiums were not paid on the 307 ambulances. “It makes sense to conclude that the US$54.3 million taxpayer funds spent by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government should have provided Ghanaians with 678 ambulances and not 307. This is most criminal!”
Source: ghanaweb.com
