Deputy Majority Leader is fighting off claims that the Health Minister lied to the parliamentary committee that probed the botched Covid-19 vaccine procurement probe.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin is of the view that all documents presented by various agencies related to the transaction do not nullify the Minister’s testimony before the ad hoc 9-member committee.

“It is not our finding that the minister lied to us, and it is because people are not reading the outcome of our probe,” he said.
This comes in the wake of news that the United Arab Emirates-based agent Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, has refunded the sum of $2.47 million dollars to the Ghanaian government.

This was after the committee set up to investigate the controversial Sputnik V vaccine deal ordered the Finance Minister to retrieve the money.

A cross-section of the public and civil society organizations including legal practitioner, Martin Kpebu has called for the Minister’s head over the matter.

“It’s one lie too many. I don’t remember the last time a Minister did this,” he said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Tuesday, August 10.

However, the Majority Leader says the development renders arguments for Mr Agyeman-Manu’s resignation unfounded.

“This confirms that the Minister did not lie when he said he at all material times was dealing with a credible entity and today the funds have fully landed in government accounts. If you ask me, I will say the committee has no further action to take because the recommendation has been met with the refund of the money,” he told JoyNews.

“The House listened to the audio of the Minister when he appeared before, and it was clear the Minister never lied, and that is why the Minority changed their position,” he added.

Meanwhile, Minority Chief Whip indicated that the Minority it is false for Mr Afenyo-Marking to claim that the Minority agrees with his position.

He says his side of the aisle will not relent in its effort to get the Minister to account for the breaches.

Speaking in Joy FM Midday News on Thursday, Muntaka Mubarak stressed that the proposition of censure against the Minister still stands because “it is becoming clearer that the Minister did truly lie.

“Because now you have the Controller and Accountant General’s letter and the Ministry of Finance letter. All these point to the fact that it is the Minister who gave the instructions,” he told Emefa Apawu.