Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has brought to light another significant controversy within the New Patriotic Party-led government.
Ablakwa disclosed that a member of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s manifesto team has secured a lucrative GH¢245 million contract through single-sourcing.
According to documents obtained, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) approved a contentious contract on October 5th, 2023, to Spectrum Fibre Limited.
The letter, signed by PPA Chief Executive Frank Mante and addressed to Ghana Health Service Director-General Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, grants approval for Spectrum Fibre to single-source a Wide Network (WAN) Connectivity Services and Data Solution Centre for GH¢745 sites nationwide over a 10-year period, valued at US$18,480,125.00, equivalent to GH¢245 million at the current exchange rate.
Ablakwa, in a Facebook post, revealed the discontent among top officials in Ghana’s health sector, who view this deal as unnecessary and duplicative. They argue that Spectrum Fibre’s tasks are already covered in a US$100 million contract awarded in 2017 to Lightwave eHealthcare Solutions Limited through single-sourcing.
Since the rollout of the Lightwave contract, Ghanaian taxpayers have reportedly paid GH¢595,873,749.23.
