The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has indicated that the government had to depend on middlemen in order to procure the Sputnik V vaccines from Russia because the procurement process has been tough.
An investigative report by a Norwegian news portal revealed that the Ghanaian government, through the Ministry of Health, has signed an agreement with a private businessman from Dubai to procure the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccines, thus sidestepping regular channels and resorting to middlemen.
According to the investigation, the government was in the process of purchasing the vaccine at US$19 per dose contrary to the manufacturer’s recommended price of $10.
In reaction to this, Ms Botchwey justified government’s decision to engage middlemen.
Speaking at a news conference today, Monday, 14 June 2021, she said: “I had discussions with the Russian Ambassador on Ghana’s desire to purchase vaccines from Russia. Actually, it wasn’t just Russia. We did so with the Chinese and also Indians”.
She noted that the challenge with procuring the vaccines was not only peculiar to Ghana.
“Put it in this context: that it is difficult; extremely so even if you have money to procure it from the source”, she said.
“It is almost impossible”, the minister confessed, explaining: “Because just as Ghana is looking for vaccines to buy, all nations are also looking for vaccines to buy and, so, it becomes quite difficult to get vaccines from the source but I can assure you that we made contacts and we still continue to pursue getting the vaccine,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament insists on the immediate abrogation of the contract deal for the procurement of the Sputnik V vaccines.
The Minority spokesperson on Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, described the contract as unconstitutional and, thus, says the government must abrogate it immediately.
He also disclosed at a news conference on Friday, 11 June 2021 that the Minority caucus will haul Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Manu before the committee to provide reasons for their action.
