Parliament has constituted the membership of the Ad-Hoc Committee tasked to probe the government’s acquisition of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine.
The nine members of the Committee include Deputy Majority leader and MP for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin as the Chairman; Kwabena Mintah Akando, MP for Juaboso, the Deputy Chairman; Bernard Ahiafor, MP for Akatsi South; Kwame Ayimadu-Antwi, MP for Asante Akim Central; Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, MP for Effiduase/Asokore; Ernest Henry Norgbey, MP for Ashiaman; Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, MP for Techiman North; Omar Farouk Aliu Mahama, MP for Yendi; and Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North.
The terms of reference for the Committee include: To determine whether or not the procurement and supply of the Sputnik V vaccines between the Government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Health and Maktoum and S.L Gobal qualify as an international business or economic transaction under Article 1815 of the Constitution and if so whether it was subjected to prior approval by Parliament.
To determine the procurement process that was followed and the priority of same.
To determine whether the services of a middle man were procured in the transaction and if so the priority of same having regard to the relevant laws.
To ascertain the cost of the vaccine, the justification of the cost of the vaccine, and whether the transaction guarantees value for money for Ghana
To determine whether or not any consideration has passed from the government to the middle man in respect of the transaction
To determine whether or not the Ministry of Health misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine
To inquire into any other matters connected with the purchase and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine in the agreement between the government of Ghana and Maktoum and S.L. Global.
The Committee has three weeks to submit a report on its findings and deliberation for the consideration and necessary action by the House.
The probe follows an outcry by the Minority after it was revealed the government paid $18.5 and $19 per dose to procure some five million Sputnik vaccines from Ghanaian-owned company, S. L. Global Limited and Maktoum respectively.
Incidentally, this was an amendment by the government after it stated that the needed vaccines to attain herd immunity would come at an original price of $26 per dose instead of the $10, which is the manufacturing price.
The Minority argued insisted Ghanaians should be concerned over the government’s decisions since the transaction is a rip-off.
The Minority, therefore, tabled a Private Members’ Motion for the House to constitute a bi-partisan Committee to investigate the procurement contracts leading to the Ad-Hoc Committee being formed.
The members include Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Whip, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka; MP for Juaboso, Mr. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; MP for Daffiama/Bussie/Issa, Dr. Sebastian Ngmenenso Sandaare; MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and MP for Nabdam, Dr. Mark Kurt Nawaane; and MP for Ashiaman, Ernest Henry Norgbey.
Source: MyPublisher24.com