The government mobilised a total of
GH¢18.19 billion to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country
for 2020 and 2021.
Government ended up spending GH¢12
billion out of the total figure generated within the period in question.
This was disclosed by the Minister of
Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, when he delivered a statement in Parliament on
Wednesday, June 22, 2022, on government’s Covid-19 response expenditure.
“Mr. Speaker, to mitigate the impact
of the pandemic on businesses and households, ensure that economic activities
recover and minimize job losses, government mobilised GH¢18.19 billion out of
the programmed GH¢19.3 billion in 2020 from various funding sources,” the
Minister said.
“Mr. Speaker, for the years 2020 and 2021, the programmed
expenditure amounted to GH¢15,763.48 million for the COVID-19-related
expenditures out of which the actual utilisation was GH¢12,036.41 million,” he
added.
Out of the Gh¢18.19 billion, the
government budgeted Gh¢1,203,715,085.77 to finance the Coronavirus
Alleviation Programme.
GH¢1.5 billion was disbursed under the
Support to Households Programme, GH¢1 billion was allocated to health response
supplies equipment and relief for health workers, and GH¢600 million was
released to begin the construction [of Agenda 111 health facilities] across the
country.
The government also allocated GH¢200
million for the provision of free water and electricity for lifeline consumers
during the Covid-19 pandemic, but GH¢143 million was subsequently spent.
He explained that the government
absorbed 50% of all “electricity bills for all residential and commercial
customers.”
Source:citinewsroom