News:
June 25, 2021
The Minority in parliament has filed a parliamentary motion for a bi-partisan probe into the procurement of the Sputnik V vaccine through an intermediary and processes leading to the award of contract to Frontiers Healthcare Services.
Government has come under heavy criticisms over attempts to procure the Sputnik V Vaccine at $19 and $26 through a third party.
At a press conference on Thursday, June 24, 2021 Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu served the last warning to government to drop the deal.
According to the Minority Leader the contract signed was not in the interest of Ghanaians and the report which would be produced by the bi-partisan probe would advise them on their next line of action.
He further pointed out that President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is blaming COVID-19 anytime there are challenges in the country but it has benefited a lot from COVID related activities, and gave examples of the Act on presidential emergency powers, and contributions to support a fund to combat the novel coronal virus.
He lamented over why the Health Ministry should deal with a middle man to procure sputnik V vaccine at $19 instead of $10 that all countries are getting theirs. And since this is an international transaction the Minority would be waiting to hear the views of Attorney General and Minister for Justice on the matter.
“Failure to have a parliamentary approval in this transaction in itself is illegal and the Minister said he dealt with the deputy Russian Ambassador; there is not position like that, we are not convinced”.
Additionally, he pointed out that the World Health Organisation has cautioned countries against buying vaccine from middle men because of their potency and despite the cordial relation Ghana has with Russian their embassy in Ghana was not contacted to help procure the vaccine.
“Our Foreign Affairs Minister Shirly Ayorkor Botwe has let the country down and more worrying is President Nana Akufo-Addo who had occupied that same position before and under his watch we had such a thing go on, even we in the Minority have access to the Russian Embassy in Ghana”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com