[Audio]How was this contract obtained by an unqualified company? Ablakwa on the issue involving ambulance services

Provision of services Ghana Auto Group Limited, a contentious firm, is being closely examined for its role in an improbable $34.9 million (GH₵538 million) ambulance replacement parts purchase.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu Member of Parliament, has expressed grave concerns over the company’s operations and the validity of the contracts it has been awarded.

Speaking on Tuesday’s Dwaso Nsem morning show on Adom FM, Ablakwa brought out some noteworthy inconsistencies inside the business.

He disclosed that, on April 24, 2020, Service Ghana Auto was established, which was more than a year after President Akufo-Addo put the 307 new ambulances into service on January 28, 2019.

He emphasised that the firm worked without a formal contract for eight months while still getting paid, even though it was unregistered when it started maintaining ambulances in January 2020 and finally formally registered in April 2020.

In spite of these conclusions, the business received GH₵115 million in payments from 2020 to 2023.

He continued by saying that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited had overstated invoices, had sufficient staff, and had to use National Ambulance Service mechanics due to these issues, according to an Auditor General’s report dated 2022.

Mr. Ablakwa questioned the government’s choice to give Service Ghana Auto Group an even bigger contract at $34.9 million (GH₵538 million) in spite of the audit report’s harsh criticism and earlier payments of GH₵115 million that were not worth the money.

“How did this contract be awarded to an unqualified company? How can a government that professes to care about keeping public funds, in spite of this damning audit report, award an even larger contract worth US$34.9 million (GHS538 million) when Ghana failed to receive value for the GHS115 million it had previously paid Service Ghana Auto Group Limited?

He declared, “This is a company that ought to be placed on a blacklist, but it keeps getting new contracts.”

Ablakwa also urged the general public to assist in the effort to retrieve the remaining monies.

He conveyed optimism that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) will step in and assist in stopping more misappropriation of public monies.

“May we be able to stop the unpaid invoices and get the money back that was lost. I’m pleading with everyone to take up the cause in order to at least receive the remaining funds back. Yesterday, I went to see the OSP and begged him to assist us in saving the remainder. I’m hopeful the OSP will assist us in getting the remaining funds because this transaction doesn’t make sense.

The health industry is facing several difficulties. “Is this the best use of our $34.9 million?” he enquired.

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