The Last Supper: Ken Ofori Atta, Gyakroma, Edwina Akuffo-Addo, Stephen Okoro and the $34.9m Ambulance Chop Chop Scandal

In what can only be described as a travesty akin to a sacred moment turned political thievery, according to a revelation by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, on February 9, 2024, approved a staggering $34,904,505.00 for spare parts for the 307 ambulances purchased by the government in 2019. This decision, executed just days before leaving office, highlights a disconcerting pattern of corruption within the NPP government.

Ablakwa revealed that on the same day, Ofori-Atta directed the release of $10 million to Service Ghana Auto Group Limited (SGAGL). The Controller and Accountant-General promptly processed and released GHS120,711,000 to SGAGL on February 23, 2024. This revelation underscores the alarming speed and secrecy surrounding these transactions, raising red flags about the integrity of the process.

Is there any intricate tie between SGAGL and President Nana Akufo-Addo's family? Perhaps yes, because it is widely known that Stephen Okoro, a key figure in SGAGL, is linked to the President's daughters, Gyakroma Akufo-Addo and Edwina Nana Dokua Akufo-Addo. These connections underscore a government deeply entangled in nepotism and favoritism. The cozy relationship between SGAGL and the President’s family exemplifies the worst kind of governance, where public office is used for personal enrichment.

Further deepening the controversy, the Auditor-General's report highlighted that SGAGL submitted inflated invoices and used NAS staff to carry out maintenance work while charging the state. This procurement process mirrors the notorious Enron playbook, exploiting government resources for personal gain. The $54.339 million initially spent on the ambulances, combined with the additional $34.9 million for spare parts, represents a government of family and friends.

In response to these damning revelations by Ablakwa, the Ministry of Health issued an unsigned press release defending the contract. This lack of accountability raises serious ethical concerns. If Ablakwa’s allegations were baseless, why was the response unsigned? This evasive behavior further corroborates Ablakwa’s claims. The Ministry’s defense falls flat, as it fails to address the core issues of inflated costs and conflict of interest.

In 2016, President Nana Addo promised to protect the national purse but has failed spectacularly. The SGAGL contract exemplifies a broader trend of mismanagement and corruption, betraying the public's trust. The President’s commitment to fighting corruption is nothing more but a hollow promise, overshadowed by the actions of those within his inner circle.

If Ablakwa’s whistleblowing is true, then the timing of the $34.9 million contract award, just before Ofori-Atta's departure, is suspicious. It suggests a deliberate move to secure funds for a discredited company linked to the President's family. It would only take political will to prosecute those involved in this scandal. They deserve harsh sentences and hard labor at Nsawam Prison. Regardless of which political party one belongs, it is my hope that the incoming Mahama NDC administration will muster the political will to enforce accountability to prevent the blatant misuse of taxpayer money.

Ebenezer Ato Ntarkurfah Jackson, Cornell University, MBA Class of 2015, EAJ72@CORNELL.EDU

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