Unveiling the $108 Million Ambulance Heist: How the Akufo-Addo Administration’s Inner Circle Profited from Inflated Contracts

The unveiling of a series of corrupt practices in Ghana’s ambulance procurement has shocked the nation. After thorough parliamentary oversight, the true extent of the corruption has been revealed, linking President Akufo-Addo’s close associates to a massive $108 million scandal involving the procurement of 307 ambulances. This investigation sheds light on how various companies, tied to the President’s inner circle, were used to orchestrate this heist.

The Scandal Unveiled

The same group behind the notorious $34.9 million ambulance spare parts deal also managed to secure opaque single-source contracts worth $54.3 million to procure 307 ambulances. The individuals involved were business partners and close associates of President Akufo-Addo’s daughters, ensuring these deals were kept within a tight-knit circle. The procurement process, marred by shady and disgraceful practices, grossly inflated the costs of the ambulances.

The Auditor-General’s Performance Audit

The Auditor-General’s Performance Audit revealed a disturbing discrepancy: while the government reported spending $54.3 million on the ambulances, the unit price of each ambulance was listed as $80,000. Simple arithmetic shows that the total cost should have been $24.56 million, indicating an inflation of $29.74 million. This discrepancy suggests that the taxpayer money spent could have procured 678 ambulances instead of 307.

The Companies Involved

Parliamentary scrutiny confirmed that different companies were used to import the ambulances, steering clear of the notorious Service Ghana Auto Group Limited. The companies involved were:

• Elok Consult and Services Limited
• BEFT Engineering Works Limited
• Bluemix Company Limited
• Prestige Era Company Limited
• RDC Company Limited
• Luxury World Auto Group Limited
• Quality Suppliers and Builders Company Limited

Most of these companies were formed between April and September 2017, the year President Akufo-Addo took office. None of them had a track record or expertise in importing ambulances. The involvement of Stephen Okoro, a politically exposed person and business partner of Gyankroma Akufo-Addo, in Elok Consult and Services Limited, further highlights the nepotistic state capture.

 

Discrepancies in Payments

The disparities in payments made to these companies for the same specifications of ambulances point to an urgent need for a special forensic audit. For instance, Elok Consult was paid GHS32,203,322.14 for 40 ambulances, while BEFT Engineering received GHS26,694,249.13 for the same number. Similar discrepancies were found in payments to other companies.

Total Financial Impact

The total amount involved in this scandal includes:

• $54.3 million for the initial procurement of 307 ambulances
• GHS115 million for maintenance between 2020 and 2023
• $10 million in February this year
• An imminent payment of $24.9 million

In total, this amounts to approximately $108 million, a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the corruption.

Next Steps

In light of these revelations, the parliamentary oversight committee will update its petition to the Special Prosecutor. The aim is to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable and that there are retrievals and sanctions for this egregious misuse of public funds. The expectation is that comprehensive legal actions will commence in 2025, putting an end to nepotistic state capture and ensuring that Ghana’s interests come first.

Conclusion

This scandal is a wake-up call for Ghana. The exposure of such deep-rooted corruption at the highest levels of government highlights the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and stringent oversight to safeguard public funds. For the love of country, Ghanaians must unite to demand justice and ensure that such a travesty never happens again.