Ofori-Atta approved a ‘rip-off’ $34 million ambulance spare parts deal of 'ginormous proportions' before leaving office — Ablakwa

North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has accused former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta of approving a suspicious $34 million contract for ambulance spare parts just days before leaving office.

In a social media post on Monday, July 22, Ablakwa alleged that Ofori-Atta, along with former Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, conspired to give the lucrative but "rip-off" deal to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited on February 9, 2024 - just five days before Ofori-Atta was removed in a cabinet reshuffle.

The contract was for the procurement of spare parts for 307 ambulances purchased by the government in 2019 at a cost of $34.9 million, which Ablakwa says ballooned to an "unconscionable" $113,695 per ambulance.

"Why sign a rip-off and an unconscionable sweetheart deal of US$113,695.456.00 just for spare parts when you can buy a new fully equipped modern Mercedes Benz ambulance for the same value, and even less?" Ablakwa questioned in his post.

He also noted that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, the sole-sourced recipient of the contract, was only incorporated in 2020 - over a year after the original ambulance purchase.

The MP plans to petition the Special Prosecutor to investigate the deal, calling it "another scandal of ginormous proportions."

He alleges the company has already earned over GHS653 million in inflated invoices and poor maintenance work, more than double the original cost of the ambulances.