Former Health Minister Agyemang-Manu arrested over Sputnik V deal, charges expected — Kwakye Ofosu

Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu has revealed that former Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu was arrested and interrogated by investigators over his involvement in the controversial procurement of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine.

Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, Kwakye Ofosu explained that the former minister was taken in for questioning by the National Intelligence Bureau. According to him, investigators interrogated and cautioned Agyemang-Manu, and legal action may soon follow.

He stated that two separate investigative files are being prepared against the former minister one relating to the Sputnik V vaccine procurement and another concerning a COVID-19 frontier issue. Kwakye Ofosu added that the Attorney General of Ghana is expected to file charges in court within the coming weeks.

Background to the Sputnik V procurement

The investigation stems from a 2021 agreement signed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to procure the Russian-made Sputnik V vaccines.

At the time, the Ministry of Health entered into an arrangement with a United Arab Emirates intermediary, Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum, together with a Ghanaian company called S.L. Global, to supply millions of doses.

The deal triggered major controversy after it was revealed that Ghana had agreed to purchase the vaccines at about $19 per dose, almost twice the roughly $10 price offered by the manufacturer.

A parliamentary ad hoc committee later determined that the agreement had been signed without parliamentary approval and without clearance from the Public Procurement Authority.

The committee also reported that about $2.85 million (over GH¢16 million) had already been paid for vaccines that were never delivered.

The government eventually cancelled the contract in July 2021 following strong public criticism and parliamentary scrutiny.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, investigations into the transaction are ongoing, and prosecutors will determine the specific charges to be brought against the former minister as the case moves toward court.