Parliament: Afenyo-Markin chairs Committee probing procurement of Sputnik-V Vaccines for Ghana

Member of Parliament (MP) for the Efutu constituency and Deputy Majority Leader in Ghana’s Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, is chairing the Nine Member Special Parliamentary Committee set up to investigate circumstances surrounding the procurement of Russia’s Sputnik-V COVID-19 vaccines.

The Committee made up of five members from the Majority side as against four members from the Minority side, has been given an expansive terms of reference to investigate and report back to Parliament within three weeks.

Afenyo-Markin is being supported by the Member of Parliament for the Juaboso constituency and Ranking Member on the Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, as the Vice Chairman.

The formation of the Committee follows Parliament’s adoption of a Private Members Motion on on the issue on Thursday, July 8, 2021, spearheaded by some Members of the Minority group in Parliament led by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu.

The composition of Membership as well as the terms of reference of the Committee was deferred to the next day to allow for further consultations between the leadership of both sides of the House.

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After reaching consensus on the composition of the Committee, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu presented the list of the Membership of the Committee on Friday.

The other committee members include: MP for Akachi South, Bernard Ahiafor; MP for Asanti Akim Central, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi; and MP for Effiduase/Asokore, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie.

The rest are MP for Ashaiman, Henry Ernest Norbgey; MP for Techiman North, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare; MP for Yendi, Umar Farouk Aliu Mahama; and the MP for Ablekuma North, Shiela Bartels.

The terms of reference of the Committee include: to determine whether or not the transaction with respect to the procurement and supply of the Sputnik V vaccine between the Government of Ghana represented by the Ministry of Health and Muktum S L Group qualifies as international Business or Economic transaction under Article 181(5) of the Constitution, and if so, whether it was subjected to prior approval of Parliament.

The Committee is also to determine the procurement process that was followed and the propriety of same. It is also to determine whether the services of the middleman were procured in the transaction and if so, having propriety regard to the relevant laws.

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

Moreover, the Committee is to determine whether or not any consideration was passed from the Government of Ghana to the middleman.

Furthermore, for the Committee to determine whether or not the Minister of Health misled Parliament during the consideration of the transaction for the procurement of the vaccine.

The Committee has also been asked to inquire into any other matters connected to the purchase of the vaccine in the agreement between the GOG and S.L Global.

Source: Clement Akoloh || parliamentnews360.com