COVID-19 Vaccine: Kenya is paying $3, why $10 for Ghana?

The Director of Communications of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Sammy Gyamfi has quizzed why Ghana is paying $10 for each COVID-19 vaccine while other countries in the same sub region are paying less.

According to him, countries like Kenya and Togo were paying less than $5 per a vaccine while South Africa was paying $5.25 each.

“My concern is the cost, I have heard from the former Deputy Minister for Finance, Charles Adu Boahen indicated that government is budgeting a whooping $10 for each jab of vaccine we going to procure. My brother Togo has budgeted $3 for it, South Africa has budgeted $5.25, EU countries are doing $2.16 why $10 for Ghana, why $10 for Ghana,” he lamented.

He was of the view, Ghana can equally purchase it at a cheaper price at least $5 per vaccine.

“Let tell them to make sure there is value for money if countries like Kenya can do it at $3 we can do $5 or $6,” he said.

Sammy Gyamfi raised the questions while contributing to discussions on Good Morning Ghana on Thursday, March 18, 2021 monitored by GhanaPlus.com.

Ensure value for money in COVID-19 Vaccine purchase

He warned the country would not countenance, government handling the COVID-19 vaccine purchase same way as they did with the PCR test at the Airport and urged them to ensure values for money.

“My concern is the cost of these vaccines, I understand that the AstraZeneca vaccine was given to us for free, I understand government has now has to budget for vaccines, It is important knowing how the covid-19 test was handled in this country and knowing how people seek to profit from such issues like the 150 dollars PCR test at the airport, we will want government to ensure there is value for money”.

“If you see the shadiness and the opacity that surrounded that deal we don’t want to see that in the procurement of the vaccine,” Sammy Gyamfi added.

“All I am saying that let ensure that this does not become a venture or an opportunity for people to milk this country dry and that there is value for money for the state,” he emphasized.

Source: GhanaPlus.com