Parliament has constituted a nine-member adhoc bipartisan committee to probe procurement contracts the government entered into with private companies for the procurement and supply of Sputnik-V vaccines.

The committee will determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same as well as enquire into any other matters connected to the purchase of the Sputnik-V vaccine in the agreement between the GOG and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum.

The committee is to submit its report to the House within three weeks.

Membership

The committee will be chaired by the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, with the Vice Chairman being Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh.

The other members are Dr Bernard Ahiafor, Mr Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie, Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Mr Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama and Ms Sheila Bartels.

Terms of reference

The committee is to determine whether or not the transaction, with respect to the procurement and supply of the Sputnik-V vaccine between the government, represented by the Ministry of Health (MoH) and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, qualifies as an international business or economic transaction under Article 181(5) of the Constitution, and if so, whether it was subjected to prior approval by Parliament.

It will determine whether the services of the middleman were procured in the transaction and if so, whether it was appropriate, with regard to the relevant laws.

Furthermore, the committee is to ascertain the cost of the vaccines and the justification for the cost of the vaccines and whether the transaction guaranteed value for money for Ghana.

Moreover, it will determine whether or not any consideration was passed from the GOG to the middleman and to determine whether or not the MoH misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine.

Private Member’s Motion

The setting up of the committee came after the House had approved a private member’s motion on the procurement contract between the government and Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and one other for the supply of Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.

The motion, initiated by seven members of the Minority, was moved on the floor of the House last Thursday by the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu.

The members are Mr Haruna Iddrisu, Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Dr Sabastian Ngmenenso Sandaare, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Dr Mark Kurt Nawaane and Mr Ernest Henry Norgbey.

Oversight

Moving the motion, the Haruna Iddrisu requested Parliament to investigate the COVID-19 vaccines supply agreement between the private office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and the Ministry of Health (MoH) representing the Government of Ghana for 3.4 million at $19 excluding taxes at a total price of GH¢64 million.

He said the Minority believed that despite explanation given by the government on the failure and delay in procuring COVID-19 vaccines for the country, there must be thorough investigations into the matter.

“The outcome of the probe will reveal whether proper procurement processes were adhered to and, in particular, whether we are not in breach of the Constitution, particularly Article 181(5) and as stated by the Supreme Court of Ghana on the nature of international business,” he said.

He also argued that the Minority was of the firm belief that the procurement of the vaccines fell within the remit of Article 181(5) of the Constitution but the deal was not taken to Parliament for scrutiny and for the legislature to exercise its oversight.

Expressing worry about how it was becoming the norm for the procurement laws to be sidestepped in Ghana today, Mr Iddrisu said a parliamentary probe into the matter was critical.

With vaccines being procured at $10.55 on the global market, he questioned how Ghana was seeking to procure vaccines at $19.

Let’s support probe

Contributing to the debate, the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-