Minority Opposes Agreement On Medical drones by Gov’t

The Minority in Parliament has opposed the claim by Government that the state will not bear any financial burden for the proposed project to use drones to distribute essential drugs and blood to remote areas of the country.

According to the Minority spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, a critical reading of the agreement that has left Parliament divided reveals a clear “contingent liability” to the state.

Backers of the project, mainly the Majority Legislators and government officials, had said that the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and corporate bodies have agreed to fund the cost of the project.

Minority spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson suggests it will be absurd to even think the project will not be funded by the public.

“Who owns GNPC? It is Government of Ghana. It is public funds. GNPC money is public fund,” he said.

He said the reliance on corporate bodies to fund a part of the cost for the project does not absolve the state from the cost liability in the long run.

“They are now asking for sponsorship; there is a contingent liability there. The agreement was not signed by an individual person. It was signed by the Ministry of Health. If the sponsorship fails to come in it is the responsibility of the Government of Ghana,” he emphasized.

Legislators in Parliament are divided over the agreement that was presented to them for consideration. A key point of contention is the exact cost of the project.

While the Minority hold that the government have signed a deal to pay $1 million for a project which should cost some $100,000, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service has explained that the monthly cost of the project will be determined by a myriad of factors.