The Ministry of Health is yet to receive a number of Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances which were initially to be delivered on January 15, 2022.
According to the Auditor-General, the Health Ministry entered a contract signed on 15 December 2021 for the supply of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at US$4,049,460.12 but made part payment.
An amount of US$607,419.02 out of the total was paid vide PV No. IPF 22-007 of 2 September 2022,” per the report.
It has been over a year since the ambulances were to be delivered and over three months after some payment was made.
Providing reasons for the delay, the Chief Director of the Health Ministry explained that the supplier applied for extension to meet some technical specifications.
It was assumed that the supplier could apply for price variation to unduly increase the cost of the contract which could have been avoided if the ambulances had been supplied as scheduled.
In view of this, additional specifications have been recommended and the contract has therefore been extended to March 2023.
Cognizant of past events, the Auditor-General has instructed the Chief Director to ensure that the ambulances are delivered no further than the extended date of March 2023.
Source: The Independent Ghana