Following a leaked document revealing how the Health Ministry ignored advice from the Attorney General over the botched procurement of Sputnik V vaccines through an intermediary, the Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) has called for the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman Mnau.
ASEPA in a statement said per the leaked document, it was obvious that the Heath Minister had set aside AG’s advice and went into the deal knowing fully the ramifications, therefore described the actions of the Minister as criminal.
“In the over 6 page legal opinion the Attorney General had advised the Health Minister to contract the vaccines directly from the manufacturers instead of the third party who is neither a manufacturer nor an agent of the manufacturer and as such may not be liable to any consequences thereof if something goes wrong”.
It is therefore beyond dispute that the actions of the Minister in the procurement of the vaccines was criminal, the statement indicated.
“We are therefore calling not only for his immediate removal but also his immediate arrest and prosecution under the laws of Ghana”.
It therefore charged government to take action on the matter within the next 48 hours or risk a civil action in this respect.
Meanwhile, the ASEPA Boss, Mensah Thompson after receiving a response from the Presidency said although he is not satisfy yet, but happy about “giant leap towards what we have in our petition. We will be satisfied when the process is done”
Full statement below
ASEPA CALLS FOR THE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF HEALTH MINISTER AFTER LEAKED AG ADVISE SHOWS MINISTER WAS ADVISED AGAINST SPUTNIK CONTRACT WITH SHEIKH
ASEPA has today received copies of the legal opinion the Attorney General, Godfred Dame wrote to the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang Manu advising him against the Sputnik Contract with the Sheikh in Dubai.
In the over 6 page legal opinion the Attorney General had advised the Health Minister to contract the vaccines directly from the manufacturers instead of the third party who is neither a manufacturer nor an agent of the manufacturer and as such may not be liable to any consequences thereof if something goes wrong.
Last week when the Minister appeared before the Committee of Parliament probing the procurement, he claimed he wasn’t thinking properly in the midst of an emergency and a mad-rush to save the lives of Ghanaians.
What the Minister failed to tell the Committee was that he received a legal advise from the Attorney General and ignored it.
This amounts to deception and clearly withholding information from a Committee of Parliament which is a crime under the law.
It is therefore beyond dispute that the actions of the Minister in the procurement of the vaccines was CRIMINAL.
We are therefore calling not only for his immediate removal but also his immediate arrest and prosecution under the laws of Ghana.
Government must within the next 48 hours take action on this or risk a Civil action in this respect.
