The Minority caucus in parliament have served notices, they would table a motion for bi-partisan parliamentary inquiry into the award of contract to Frontier Healthcare Solution Services limited at the Kotoka International Airport, to conduct COVID-19 testing.
The move is to fish out persons responsible for the illegal award of the Contract to Frontier Healthcare without recourse to Public Procurement Authority (PPA) and without approval of parliament per fees and charges Act.
At least four Ministers to Ministers of state have denied knowledge or responsibility of the award of COVID-19 testing contract to Frontier Healthcare.
Minister designate for Health, Kweku Agyeman-Manu, Minister designate for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, Minister designate for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and Minister designate for Information and member of the government COVID-19 Task Committee have all denied responsibility and knowledge when they appeared Appointment Committee for vetting.
None of the four Ministerial nominee who appear ebfore the Appointment Committee was able to give in details on the contract which Frontier Healthcare is charging fees of $150 per passenger per COVID-19 test upon arrival or before departure at the airport.
However speaking to Journalists in parliament on Friday, February 19, the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said the evasive response by ministerial nominees who’s directly related to the contract amount to conspiracy and or abetment of illegal act.
With the forgoing, Mr Ablakwa said the minority has no option than to course a motion to be move on the floor of parliament when the House resume early next month.
According to the Minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, the government in the award of the Frontier Healthcare Contract, did not only breached section 41 of the Public Procurement Act (PPA), but has also violated the Fees and Charges Act and as well as Section 11 of the Health Institutions and Facilities Act in awarding the contract to provide COVID-19 test.
The Minority said with this plain illegality, they would not allow the deal to go unquestioned and have therefore decided to table a motion on the floor when parliament resumed for a bi-partisan committee to be set up and probe the entire contract.
“we will want a full-scale investigation into this matter. so when parliament resumes next month, we the minority side have taken a decision to move a motion for a bi-partisan parliamentary inquiring into this whole matter. We believed these multiple Ministers on this matter was to make it impossible for illegality but it appears no one seems to know and be responsible and we want a probe into this matter for those responsible to be dealt with,” Hon Ablakwa said.
The Minority said the worse of all was the fact that, the former Minister for Procurement, Sarah Adwoa Safo, also claimed he was not involved as a Minister in the process that resulted to the award of state contract to Frontier Healthcare services to test provide testing of COVID-19 at the KIA.
Sara Adwoa denial comes to the number of five state officers who have unanimously declined answers of knowledge of the Contract that Ghanaians kicked against the amount foundnoch The Dome-Kwabenya MP is the fourth key government official to deny knowledge of details of the contract.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
