Ato Forson Alleges Government Paid GH ¢ 16 Million For Sputnik V Vaccines

Row member of Parliament’s finance committee Cassiel Ato Forson alleges government paid GH ¢ 16million for Sputnik V vaccines from Russia contrary to Health Minister’s claims that no money is was poured.

Debating the mid-year budget review statement submitted by the finance minister, Dr Forson said the budget pointed out that the money was being used to pay for 50% of the vaccine doses requested.

“On page 109 of Annex 4e, it is clearly stated that they paid for the Sputnik doses, ie 50% of the Sputnik vaccine supply. We were told that so far they had not paid any amount to Sputnik.

“But, this budget tells us that between January and June, they released an amount of GH ¢ 16 million for Sputnik vaccines,” said the deputy of the constituency of Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam.

The ranking member said this shows there is a contradiction between what Parliament has said about vaccine procurement and what has been done.

It comes after Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu told a contract investigating committee earlier this month that no money had been paid to middlemen who signed contracts. with the government for supplies.

He said that despite the fact that no money was paid, a total of 20,000 doses of Sputnik vaccine were provided to the country.

Mr. Agyemang-Manu added that the government will take the necessary steps to pay for the doses the country has received from the company.

Meanwhile, Dr Forson called on the Minister of Health to appear before Parliament again and provide the appropriate details of the transaction.

“It is clear that our minister is cutting spending in the wrong places,” added the member of Parliament’s finance committee.

Dr Forson also alleged that the budget statement showed the government had made a down payment for the supply of the Johnson and Johnson vaccines.

“I am an MP, they paid 109 million cedis, I am not aware that this august Assembly has approved any amount for these purposes,” he said.

He said that in addition to Minister of Health, Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta should also provide Parliament with the necessary details.