Majority leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has called for forensic investigation into the procurement of 200 ambulances under the erstwhile John Mahama administration that cost the state a whopping US$15.9 million.
According to him, out of the 200 ambulances procured in 2014, only 30 were delivered that incidentally were not even fit for purpose because the interior upholstery did not bear medical facilities.
This development, he said, is something the country must investigate and stressed the need for the auditor-general to be instructed to conduct forensic audit into the procurement of these ambulances that were not even delivered.
The Majority leader made the call when he concluded debate on the motion to thank the President for Message on the State of the Nation.
He lamented that this was the state of Ghana under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government but stressed the situation has changed dramatically under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party government.
The government, he said, has procured 307 ambulances that have been posted to various stations across the country where they are saving lives.
He averred that most of the health structures that the current administration met but which were started by the previous government have been completed and commissioned.
These, he said, include facilities at Ogbojo, Ashiaman and Bortianor in the Greater Accra as well as facilities in the Central Region that include Akumfude, Ekumfi-Nakwa, Gomoa-Dawurampong among many others.
The Majority leader noted that government has provided employment for many people in the health sector who could have been unemployed today but for the initiative of President Akufo-Addo.
He said, “By the close of 2020, this government would have employed 70,000 new health workers of all categories.”
“So much has been done within the Health Service. The nursing training allowances, which were cancelled by the Mills-Mahama administration, have been restored.”
Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu noted that the National Health Insurance was highly indebted when the Akufo-Addo administration assumed office but stressed the government has settled the arrears to the tune of GH¢1.2 billion up to April-May 2019.
He argued that though claims are in arrears for six months, the government is mobilizing to pay.
“It is therefore untrue the statement that claims are in arrears for over one year. Processes have been completed for the payment by the middle of this month,” he said.
“This is commendable by all standards given the huge arrears that the government was confronted with at the very outset,” he added.
This, he said, is increasing confidence in the NHIS that the number of active members on the scheme has increased from 10.6 million to 12.3 million at the end of 2019.
According to him, this is the state of Ghana today and stressed the actions of President Akufo-Addo speak louder than words.
Ghanaians, he said, should therefore not be deceived by fancy talks of naysayers because there is abundant evidence of the performance and achievements of the NPP government.
“That is why the clarion call is picking up across the length and breadth of the nation: Four more years for Nana to do more,” he stated.
