Sheikh Al Maktoum was due to supply about 300,000 Sputnik V vaccines in an agreement signed with the government, but his outfit delivered only 20,000.

The Parliamentary ad-hoc committee set up to investigate the controversial Sputnik V vaccine deal ordered the Finance Minister to retrieve the money.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Health, Sheikh Al Maktoum states that the requested amount of $2.47 million has already been refunded to the designated bank account as communicated by you.

The communication also has attached the SWIFT and the payment advice.

The nine-member ad-hoc Parliamentary Committee was set up to probe the controversial Sputnik V vaccine procurement deal.

In its report it tasked the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to take steps to recover the $2,850,000 expended towards the botched procurement of several doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine.

Although the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, indicated that no money was paid to the company despite an initial 20,000 supplied to Ghana, the report by the committee found that 50 per cent of the total contract sum was actually paid.

Deputy Majority Leader, Alex Afenyo-Markin, who chaired the committee, said the matter should be closed with the refund received.

“I can confirm that the refund has been made, and to me, the major concern to Ghanaians was a possible financial loss to the state, but the Minister was sincere before the committee on the issues.

“This confirms that the Minister did not lie when he said he at all material times was dealing with a credible entity and today the funds have fully landed in government accounts. If you ask me, I will say the committee has no further action to take because the recommendation has been met with the refund of the money,” he said.

There have been several calls by individuals and some civil society groups for the Health Minister to resign or be fired by the president, but Mr Afenyo-Markin considers the calls misplaced and accused those behind of failing to read the report of the committee.

“It is not our finding that the minister lied to us, and it is because people are not reading the outcome of our probe.

“The House listened to the audio of the Minister when he appeared before it, and it was clear the Minister never lied, and that is why the Minority changed their position.

“The Minister explained to us that at that time he was not aware of any payment made and I think people must pay attention to the details because the Minister never lied.

“I am ready to defend because I’m defending the truth because the minister has been very transparent in this matter and people must stop the emotional argument,” he charged.

This comes after the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, wrote a letter to demand a refund for unsupplied vaccines.

Ghana had already taken delivery of 20,000 out of 300,000 doses of the vaccine but following a probe by an ad-hoc bi-partisan committee, a refund was recommended.

This was due to what the committee described as the breech in procurement processes.

The Sheikh had been paid $2,850,000 for his services out of an expected $5,700,000

A letter from Sheikh Al Maktoum dated August 11, 2021, which announced the refund, said no funds had been drawn under the Letter of Credit.

The businessman noted the Letter of Credit stands expired, as of June 2021.

“The requested amount of Two Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand United States Dollars (USD2,470,000) has already been refunded to the designated bank account, as communicated by you.

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“The SWIFT and the payment advice for the refund have been attached for your reference and record,” part of the letter read.

Read the full letter below:

According to him, he has initiated the steps to transfer the money into the bank account to be provided by the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu.

The refund, according to the Sheikh, is in reference to a letter dated August 2, 2021, signed by Mr Agyemang-Manu and addressed to him.

Meanwhile, a nine-member ad-hoc committee of Parliament that probed the contract agreements had urged the Minister of Finance to recover US$2,850,000 cedi equivalent of GH¢16,331,640), which was paid.

Despite an initial agreement for the supply of 300,000 doses of the vaccine, only 20,000 were delivered before the businessman terminated the contract on July 14, 2021.

Hence, Sheikh Al Maktoum, in his letter of assurance, deducted the amount of $380,000 from the requested refund as payment for the initial 20,000 samples sent which brought the total refund to $2,470,000.

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Mr Agyemang-Manu has come under serious criticism for entering into the vaccine supply agreement without parliamentary, cabinet approval or approval from the Public Procurement Authority.

There has been an intense call for his resignation or dismissal following revelations that the Attorney General advised against the deal.

Read Sheikh Al Matoum’s statement below:

Mr Agyeman-Manu requested the refund per letter dated August 2.

“By this letter, I also wish to formally request for the refund of the remaining amount for the non-supplied doses, which should be the total amount paid to your office, minus the amount due for the 20,000 doses you already supplied, in line with your earlier e-mail dated 25th July, 2021, in which it was affirmed that on the 13th April, 2021, funds were transferred into your accounts as fifty percent (50%) advance for the initial batch of 300,000 doses,” part of the letter read.

This comes after the Committee tasked to investigate the deal found that the amount of $2,850,000 (representing 50% of the contract sum of $5,700,000.00) has been paid to Messrs Al Maktoum despite the Minister claiming no payment had been made “to the best of my knowledge.”

The amount, which translates into the cedi equivalent of GH¢16,331,640 converted at the then prevailing exchange rate of US$1 to ¢5.73, was for the cost of 300,000 vaccines.

However, Sheikh Al Maktoum presented Ghana with 20,000 doses of the vaccine instead of the initially agreed doses of 300,000 for the first batch.

The Committee had tasked the Finance Ministry to retrieve GH¢16,331,640 paid to Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum.

In the letter addressed to the Sheikh, the Health Minister tasked the Sheikh to refund the remaining amount for the 280,000 doses of Sputnik V vaccines that have not been supplied.

“This request for refund is in line with clause 8.2 of the Agreement which states that any termination of this Agreement, which shall be by notice in writing to the other Party, shall not affect any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities of the Parties that have accrued up to the date of termination.

“It would be very much appreciated if the amount is transferred back into the sending bank account as per the earlier swift advice dated 9th April 2021,” Mr Agyeman-Manu added.

Below is the full statement:

Meanwhile, Pressure is mounting on Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, to resign following revelations in the report of the Parliamentary Committee that probed the Sputnik V vaccine contract.