Efforts underway to bring in Covid-19 vaccines from August – assures Minister of Health

Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu said work was underway to bring in Covid-19 vaccines from the United States in August after a contract with Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum was terminated for the supply of Russian vaccines Sputnik.

The minister, during his first appearance before the parliamentary committee responsible for examining the Sputnik V vaccine contract, assured that efforts were underway to resume Ghana’s vaccination program against Covid-19.

Mr. Agyemang Manu told the Committee that Sheikh Al Maktoum had terminated the contract with the Government of Ghana for the supply of Sputnik vaccines, which was to exceed $ 19 per dose instead of the ex-factory price of $ 10.

He said the businessman initially asked for between $ 28 and $ 30 per dose, but the figure was traded at $ 19. He admitted violating the constitution by not submitting the agreement to parliament for approval before it was signed.

Despite the delivery of 20,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccine to the country, Mr. Agyemang Manu said no money was paid to the businessman.

He says he was frustrated with the inability to get vaccines after letters to the Russian Foreign Minister and Russian Trade Minister were not answered. He says other options are being explored.

“Ask me if I would go back for something or not. My answer would be no because my appetite and my enthusiasm to sign this contract are no longer there. Why? Because the deliberate timetables that have been promised by COVAX are very close now, if we are lucky even before the end of July…. America has actually given Africa quantities through the COVAX initiative. They allocated $ 1.2 million to Ghana and I think in the next two or three weeks we could also start to receive such doses, ”he said.