Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called for a full scale by-partisan investigation into the activities of Frontiers Health-Care Services Limited contract.
According to him responses from various sector Ministers designate on the one hundred and fifty dollars charged at Ghana’s airport on anti-gene test raises a lot of doubt about the contract for which there must be deeper investigation.
“This clearly shows that, there is something fishy and fraudulent about the award of the contract”, he said at a press briefing in Parliament on Friday, February 19, 2021.
He further explained that, when the Health Minister- designate came before the Committee he did not know anything about the contract and said that, they should find out from Presidential Tax force.
Same for the Minister-designate for Attorney General and Justice, who also serve on the procurement board told the committee, he does not know anything about the contract, including the immediate past Procurement Minister at the Presidency.
Madam, Sarah Adwoa Safo also told the Appointment committee that, she does not know anything about it, but rather directed the Committee to enquire from the Finance Minister-designate, Ken Ofori-Atta.
Mr. Okudzeto Ablakwa further explained that, the Information Minister- designate who was the same Minister for Information at the Ministry at the time of awarding this same contract also directed the committee to seek answers from the Ghana Airport Ltd. Assertion
Per the North Tongu MP’s assertion, the processes and the laws on procurement were all breached, especially on procurement Act section 41, which details procedure for awarding contracts in times of emergency or catastrophe. But considering the answers being given by the nominees at the Appointment Committee, it “clearly shows that procedure and laws of procurement were not followed in awarding the contract to Frontier Health-care Services Ltd”.
Mr. Okudzeto, who spoke on behalf of the Minority in Parliament did indicate that, they are going to file a motion on the floor of the House and call for a by-partisan enquiry into the matter and find out how come the contract was awarded to Frontier Health-care Services Ltd in breach of, “our procurement laws for the necessary actions or punishment be applied”.
Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com