Controversial Sputnik V Vaccine Contract: NDC Birmingham-UK Branch speaks

The Birmingham Branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as a matter of urgency, strongly urges the President of the Republic of Ghana (Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo) to fire Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu (Minister of Health) because of his recalcitrant and belligerent stance not to resign from post despite the persistent and stentorian calls from Ghanaians for him to do so after the ad hoc committee of Parliament tasked to investigate the purchase of Sputnik V vaccine from a middleman found him guilty of lying under oath.

Since Ghana recorded the first case of COVID-19 in March last year, the Birmingham Branch of the NDC and many public health practitioners, civil society organisations and medical experts have been firmly convinced that the general management and containment of the deadly virus could have been more efficiently done had the Minister of Health shirked his insatiable quest for wealth, personal interests, motives for profit and had the interest of the general public at heart. We note here that the surge in the number of deaths and high rate of infection could have been far less.

Indeed, we acknowledge that the Minority in Parliament have done their best in the midst of excruciating hardships, massive corruption, inept leadership and lack of candour exhibited by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP). For instance, they collaborated with the Majority in Parliament to approve a number of loan agreements, including U.S. $1 billion Rapid Credit Facility from the IMF, U.S. $130 million from the World Bank, the 2021 Government of Ghana COVID-19 budget of GH 19 billion and several other credit facilities, all aimed at providing vaccines and reducing the rate of infections. Unfortunately, these laudable efforts will come to naught if Mr. Agyeman Manu remains at post.

We deem honesty as the hallmark of a true leader; but from the outcome of the investigation done by the ad hoc committee of Parliament, it is abundantly clear that the Minister of Health has no respect for the taxpayer whose sweat, blood and toil are used to pay him. Indeed, we are baffled that even if the Minister could disrespect Ghanaians by lying to them, why won’t he respect our elected members of Parliament and tell the truth for once? As if that was not enough, the Minister held a press conference on 16^th June, 2021, and subsequently granted a number of radio and television interviews and lied to the hilt. Even before the ad hoc committee of Parliament could complete its task, he signed the Sputnik V vaccine contract with Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates at a unit cost of U.S. $19 instead of U.S. $10. When challenged this time too, he lied under oath.

Furthermore, we (members of the Birmingham branch of the NDC) were more troubled when the Health Minister under oath told the parliamentary ad hoc committee investigating the contract that he signed the contract without informing the Food and Drug Board for confirmation or otherwise of the efficacy and authenticity of the drug which is not from the factory but from a middleman in Dubai. As such, we see the conduct and actions of the Health Minister, especially the press conference that he held on 16^th June, 2021, during which he sought to justify his unilateral decision to purchase 3.4 million doses of Sputnik V vaccines using a middleman (Sheik Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum), as a fragrant disregard for the World Health Organisation (WHO) that sounded series of cautions to countries not to involve middlemen in the procurement of vaccines for their citizens.

Additionally, the indecent haste of the Minister to sign the Sputnik V vaccine contract made him to ignore both cabinet and parliamentary approval in this all-important international agreement. Further, he also did not involve any technical person in this multi-million international contract which had to do with a very serious product like vaccines. This behaviour of the Minister shows nothing but opportunism to use the pandemic to exploit and aggregate wealth to family and friends.

Since his appointment, we have observed that the minister projects his desire for comfort and pleasure beyond the health needs of Ghanaians. Indeed, at the pick of COVID-19, where health facilities were full and over-burdened, the Minister was proud to grant an interview to a radio station during which he indicated that he was resting at the Legon hospital, a facility designated for COVID-19 patients. That conduct is reprehensible. Tying it up with the surreptitious manner in which he signed the contract for the purchase of the Sputnik V vaccines, we deem him as not only a threat to the health sector but also to the public purse.

Retaining him as the Health Minister will worsen the plight of Ghanaians and lead the country into more debt, especially as the country continues to borrow money to help curb the pandemic. Hence, we strongly urge the President of the Republic to immediately fire Mr. Agyeman Manu. Ghana has no room for such an unconscionable public office holder who will not hesitate to indulge in shady deals and sign such a major contract only to claim after being exposed that he was “confused” or “not thinking right” at the time he signed the Sputnik V contract.  By his indiscretion, Mr. Agyeman Manu has abused public trust and endangered the national coffers. Beyond that, he has lost public trust, confidence, and respect. He deserves no sympathy, protection, or cover-up and must be removed from office outright. That is what the Birmingham Branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is asking Nana Akufo-Addo to do.

Peter M. Dzidza, Ph.D.

Communication Secretary

Birmingham Branch of the NDC