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The Dubai intermediary behind the supply of 300,000 doses of Sputnik Covid-19 vaccines to Ghana, Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum finally repaid the $ 2,470,000 in the coffers of the Ghanaian government.
This was after the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, wrote to him.
In a letter to the Ministry of Health, the Sheikh of Dubai indicated that “We acknowledge receipt of your letter with Ref. N ° MOHCD / LG012 / 21 of August 10, 2021 concerning the reimbursement of the balance of payments to the government of Ghana for the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine ”.
He said, “The requested amount of two million four hundred and seventy thousand US dollars (US $ 2,470,000) has already been refunded to the designated bank account, as you reported.”
The letter stated that “the Swift and the payment notice for the reimbursement are attached to your reference and your file, adding that” we also confirm that no funds have ever been withdrawn under the LC. Please also note that the LC has expired since June 2021 and is no longer a valid legal instrument issued in our favor ”.
The agreement for the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine with Sheikh Al Maktoum acting as an intermediary has sparked controversy in the country.
After presenting Ghana with 20,000 doses of vaccine instead of the 300,000 doses initially agreed for the first batch, the agreement was subsequently terminated.
Mr. Agyeman Manu requested reimbursement of the money paid in a letter addressed to him, a member of the ruling family from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, entitled “Reimbursement to the Government of Ghana of the balance of 300.00 doses of Sputnik V Vaccine. ”
In a letter signed by the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, who is at the center of the agreement, he noted the termination of the vaccine supply agreement dated March 9, 2021, for the supply of the Sputnik V vaccine, ‘in accordance with your letter n ° ADM / LT / GHA / 00/21/101 of July 14, 2021.’
He formally requested reimbursement of the remaining amount for the doses not provided, which should be the total amount paid to Sheikh Al Maktoum’s office.
The reimbursement will be reduced by the amount due for the 20,000 doses already supplied to the country by Sheihk Al Maktoum.
Two weeks off
Already the chief of staff has granted two weeks leave to the Minister of Health, Mr. Agyemang Manu following intense increasing pressure on him to resign due to the revelation he has made that he has concluded a contract with the Sheikh of Dubai without parliamentary approval when he admitted he erred before the parliamentary committee.
The health minister admitted in July this year that he independently approved the purchase of a $ 64.6 million contract for the Sputnik V vaccine from Russia out of frustration.
He told the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the controversial Sputnik V vaccine purchase deal that accumulated frustrations in procuring the vaccines for the country had forced him to ignore parliamentary approval as the requires section 181 (5) of the 1992 constitution.
In the minister’s rationale, he intended to formally seek parliamentary approval after independently approving the $ 64.6 million contract.
A report from the ad hoc committee accused the health minister of not seeking parliamentary approval, among other things.
The OccupyGhana lobby group, the minority group in parliament, IMANI’s Kofi Bentil and private lawyer Martin Kpebu have been on the front lines calling for the minister’s resignation.
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