Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the minister of foreign affairs has said Ghana’s relationship with Russia is still healthy despite the Eastern European country’s inability to provide Sputnik V vaccine to the former under a government-to-government arrangement.
The minister has come under heavy backlash following government’s inability to secure Sputnik V vaccine at ex-factory rate of US$10 instead of US$19, raising suspicion of strained relationship between the two countries.
Addressing the media in Accra on Monday 14 June, the foreign affairs minister said it is difficult to procure vaccines directly from manufacturing companies because of the current spike in demand globally.
“Our relations with Russia is excellent. We have no problems with Russia, now when it comes to engagements concerning say procurement or whatever, the first step is the foreign ministry engaging the embassy here because Russia is represented by the ambassador,” she said.
Botchwey added: “I had discussion with the Russian ambassador on Ghana’s desire to purchase vaccines from Russia… let’s put it in this context, that it is difficult, extremely so, even if you have money to procure vaccines from the source, it is almost impossible because just as Ghana is looking for vaccines to buy, all nations are also looking for vaccines to buy and so it becomes quite difficult to get vaccines to buy.”
She explained that Ghana is not the only country facing the challenge of procuring vaccines to administer to its citizens.
She said despite the challenge, government is not reneging on its effort to procure vaccines from the source despite the challenges.
Securing Sputnik V Vaccines for US$19 not a rip off
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health has stated that attempts by government to secure Sputnik V Vaccines at a unit cost of US$19 is not a rip off as being suggested in some quarters.
The explanation follows a Norwegian newspaper (VG) report suggesting that Ghana is buying Sputnik V Vaccines from Russia twice the price.
A statement issued and signed by Kwabena Boadu Oku-Afari, chief director of the Health Ministry, said the US$10 a dose is rather the ex-factory price, which is only obtained from Government-to-Government arrangement.
“The initial price quoted was US$25, but this was negotiated downwards to US$19. This is the result of the cost build up to the ex-factory price of US$10 per dose, taking into account transportation, shipment, insurance, handling and special storage charges, as explained by the seller. These are the factors which led us to agree the final price of US$19 per dose,” the statement said.
It added: “The unit price was negotiated at a meeting held at MoH, with representatives from MoH and Office of Dalmook Al Maktoum, who had travelled to Accra for the purpose. The MoH, after ascertaining the type and nature of the vaccine, through the delivery of 15,000 doses, placed an order for the supply of 300,000 doses of the vaccine at a cost of US$5,700,000.”
The ministry said government, however, has the option to pull out of the deal if supply condition is not delivered.
“This is yet to be delivered. This undertaking includes an option to opt out of any obligations if supply conditions are not met.”
Fred Dzakpata
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