[ 2012-06-26 ]

NDC Doles Out $18m For Four Ambulances
In what may come to many Ghanaians as a shocking
revelation, the Mills-Mahama led National
Democratic Congress administration has disregarded
the terms of a contract to dole out a whopping
$18m to one Dr Said Deraz, an Egyptian investor,
in return for only four ambulances for the nation.


The Government of Ghana entered into a contract
with Dr Deraz’s investment company, Euro Get De-
Invest SA, for the construction of two Regional
Hospitals in Wa and Kumasi, and additional six
District Hospitals at Twifo-Praso, in the Central
Region; Konongo-Odumasi and Tepa, Ashanti;
Nsawkaw, Brong-Ahafo; Salaga, Northern; and
Adenta-Madina in the Greater Accra Region.

As part of the terms of the deal, which has a
documentation of about 500 pages, and being
championed by Acting President John Mahama, Euro
Get De-Invest was to source for money to pay for
the total cost of the project totalling almost
$400 million dollars.

The Egyptian investor, who brought no money from
his country, was originally issued with a
Government of Ghana Sovereign Guarantee, and later
issued with Promissory Notes, to enable him source
for funds from international financial
institutions to finance the project.

It was provided under this Suppliers Credit
project that “any payment by Government of Ghana
to the investor has to be made ONLY after...the
hospitals have been fully constructed and equipped
by November 2012.”

The US based company SYMX Healthcare Corporation
was selected and contracted by the Egyptian
investor “to provide all the labour, equipment and
materials to construct these hospitals for the
Ministry of Health and Ministry of Defence for the
Republic of Ghana.”


SYMX subsequently sub-contracted the construction
scope to an Italian construction company, Gruppo
GEDI.

According to a Project Review document authored by
Gruppo GEDI, even though money paid by the
Mills-Mahama led administration to the Egyptian
investor is approximately $18m, “work done on all
sites” is just “site clearance, hoarding and some
limited exaction.”

This is the state of the project which was
expected to be completed in November, 2012, with
Government only obliged to make any payment after
the hospitals “have been fully constructed and
equipped.”

So far what the nation has obtained from the
Egyptian investor is four ambulances, in return
for the $18m dole out.

Donating two of the ambulances to the Ministry of
Health on Thursday, August 5, 2010, Joseph
Marinoni, Ghana Country Director and Member of
Board of Directors of Euro Get De- Invest SA,
pledged to handover to the Government “Two fully
furnished Regional and Six District Hospitals...
within the next Two years.”

But checks made at the sites indicate no activity
taking place. Residents of Wa are even up in arms
against Acting President John Mahama who cut the
sod for the construction of their supposed
Regional Hospital on July 31, 201.

After being promised the construction of a 160-bed
regional hospital by Mr Mahama, and with no sign
of construction two years down the line, the
people believe the NDC administration is taking
them for a ride, seeing them as people who would
always deceived to vote for the party. Stay tuned
for more.

Source - The New Statesman

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