The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has not yet disbursed the US$10 million allocated for spare parts for ambulances to Service Ghana Auto Group, according to a senior official at the central bank.
The official stated that no payments have been made because there has been no request to activate the transaction.
“We’ve established the letter of credit (LC) in favour of Service Ghana Auto Group for US$10 million,” the BoG source explained.
“However, no payments have been made on the LC as we have not received any calls or demands for it.”
This statement refutes claims made by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, who asserted that the government had already paid for the ambulance spare parts.
Ablakwa alleged that the deal was hurriedly approved by then-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta just five days before he left office, and that US$10 million had already been paid to the Service Ghana Auto Group.
However, a statement released by the Ministry of Health on Thursday, July 25, 2024, clarified that the contract was originally signed by the now-defunct Ministry of Special Development Initiatives with Service Auto Group Ghana Limited.
The statement noted that Ofori-Atta acted upon the Health Ministry’s request after the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives was dissolved.
The contract with Service Auto Group Ghana Limited involves after-sales service and maintenance for 307 Mercedes Benz Sprinter 315 CDI ambulances.
The Health Ministry further clarified that no payments have been made yet.
“The Ministry of Health would like to clarify that the Service Provider, Ghana Auto Group Limited, has not been paid an amount of US$34.9 million as widely reported,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Health emphasized its commitment to ensuring a sustainable maintenance regime for all fleets procured for the National Ambulance Service to provide reliable, efficient, and safe emergency medical services.
