The Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) has received the petition filed by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa to probe an alleged $34.9 million (GH₵538 million) procurement deal for ambulance spare parts.
In a statement on July 25, the Special Prosecutor said he will commence investigation if he determines that the matter is within the mandate of the OSP.
Ablakwa filed his petition on Monday, July 22, 2024, and shared documentary evidence of the transaction in a Facebook post on the same day.
He accused former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and former Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu of conspiring with a private company to defraud the state.
THE US$34.9 MILLION (GHS538 MILLION) AMBULANCE SCANDAL AND HOW SERVICE GHANA AUTO GROUP LIMITED HAS MADE A COOL GHS653MILLION THROUGH INFLATED INVOICES
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 22, 2024
Unimpeachable intercepted documents from Ghana’s Ministry of Finance reveal yet another scandal of ginormous proportions.… pic.twitter.com/QX8iebUr1b
According to Ablakwa, the deal was hastily approved by the Finance Minister five days before his removal from office.
He also questioned the legitimacy of the beneficiary company, Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, which was incorporated on April 24, 2020—one year after the ambulances were commissioned in 2019—raising doubts about their capacity to service the ambulances.
In a follow-up post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, July 23, Ablakwa expressed frustration with the government's silence on the issue since his initial revelation.
He emphasised the need for transparency and accountability regarding the procurement deal.
I have duly petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor on the US$34.9million Ambulance Spare Parts Scandal.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 23, 2024
It is unacceptable that after 24-hours since my exposé, government has been unable to speak, and at least provide a breakdown of the US$113,695.45 it claims to be…
"I have duly petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor on the US$34.9 million Ambulance Spare Parts Scandal."
"It is unacceptable that after 24-hours since my exposé, government has been unable to speak, and at least provide a breakdown of the US$113,695.45 it claims to be spending on spare parts for each ambulance when that amount can get us a new fully-equipped modern ambulance."
"May we be successful in blocking the outstanding payments and retrieving the lost funds," he posted.
The US$34.9million Ambulance Spare Parts Scandal — Unmasking the Powerful People behind the Notorious Service Ghana Auto Group Limited
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) July 24, 2024
We have all been wondering what makes Service Ghana Auto Group Limited so special that Ken Ofori-Atta could not leave the Finance Ministry… pic.twitter.com/p48WkLPqlz