The government is satisfied with the Covid-19 testing for travelers who arrive at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), the Minister of Information has said.
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah noted that any attempt to mar the success of the testing by making unsubstantiated allegations will amount to irresponsibility.
His comments come after the Minority in Parliament accused the government of Ghana of ripping off travelers when they get into the country with the $150 charge per Covid-19 test at the KIA.
At a press conference addressed by Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member on the Health Committee, the Minority said its comparative analysis with situations in India and Malaysia, where they are charging far less than what the Government of Ghana is charging, proves so.
“Ladies and gentlemen, how much out of the $150 charged each traveller goes to the state? The arrangements with Frontier Healthcare Services Ltd is a rip-off. Moreover, nobody knows how the contract was awarded to this company, which was formed a few days to the lifting of travel restrictions and which has no certified laboratory in Ghana for the purpose of testing arriving passengers.
“In addition to these infractions, passengers who are unable to pay are detained or quarantined. This poses a serious risk to other users of the facility. This is a classic case of create, loot and share by President Akufo-Addo and his family and friends. Such a conduct is condemnable and we urge all well-meaning Ghanaians to condemn such an insensitive and inhumane behaviour of the government.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our checks show that Frontier Healthcare Services Ltd is owned 100% by another company in Ghana called Healthcare Solution Services Limited. Our sources indicate that Healthcare Solution Services Limited was incorporated on 3rd June, 2020. The company also received its certificate to commence business on the same day. Further investigations have shown that Healthcare Solution Services Limited is owned 100% by another company called ‘The Peters Family Company Ltd’.
“This company is registered in Dominican Republic, a notorious offshore/tax haven and investigations point to the fact that the company belongs to a Nigerian billionaire businessman called Benedict Peters. This opaque status of Frontiers Healthcare Solution Services Limited clearly strengthens our position that the award of the contract to Frontier Healthcare Solution Services Limited is a grand scheme by the Akufo-Addo government and his family and friends to enrich themselves at the expense of people who are struggling to make ends means in this difficult time of Covid-19,” the Minority said.
But addressing a press conference in Accra on Friday, October 2, Mr Oppong Nkrumah said: “We are very satisfied with their tests which have helped prevent 50 [Covid-19] cases from getting into the general population as of the end of September 2020. It will be irresponsible of us to tinker with the successes being achieved so far.”
He added: “Their services were well procured, their standards meet global requirements and we have no qualms with them. If indeed the Minority wants answers to questions, they know the appropriate place to file those questions as Parliament resumes.
“Their scare tactics, calls to parents to withdraw wards from schools and attacks on government have all failed. This is the latest page in their book of cooked-up controversies,” he stated.
By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana
