Felix Kwakye Ofosu: Former Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang-Manu to Face Criminal Charges | Discuss Ghana

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Government Communications Minister Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that the state is finalizing criminal charges against the former Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, over the alleged mismanagement of COVID-19 funds.

The announcement is part of a broader anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), which seeks to reclaim state resources and hold former officials accountable for financial irregularities.

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The Allegations and Legal Timeline

According to the update provided by the Minister for State Communications:

The NIB Investigation: Agyemang-Manu was reportedly arrested, interrogated, and cautioned by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) in 2025 regarding his role in the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 resources.

Criminal Charges: Kwakye Ofosu stated that the former minister will be formally charged with criminal offences in the coming weeks, as investigators have compiled sufficient evidence to proceed to court.

The "Sputnik-V" Factor: While the current charges focus on the general COVID-19 expenditure, they follow years of scrutiny over the 2021 Sputnik-V vaccine deal, where a parliamentary committee found that the Ministry had entered into an international agreement without prior Cabinet or Parliamentary approval.

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Context: COVID-19 Fund Mismanagement

The push for prosecution follows several investigative reports, including findings from the Auditor-General, which highlighted deep-seated wastage and misapplication of funds between 2020 and 2022:

Undelivered Vaccines: The government reportedly paid $120 million to international agencies, but only $38 million worth of vaccines were delivered, leaving a $82 million deficit.

Procurement Breaches: Contracts for vaccines were allegedly increased by over GH¢4 million without the required approval from the Central Tender Review Committee.

Medical Equipment: Equipment valued at over $110,000 was reportedly given to a private hospital that was neither an isolation center nor a recipient of COVID-19 patients.