Minister for Finance,
Ken Ofori has debunked claims that the government has not been transparent with
its COVID-19 expenditure.
Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the Minister said all
programmed, mobilized and utilized funds pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic
have been dully reported in line with the government’s commitment to
accountability and transparency.
His presentation comes on the back of the Minority NDC MP’s demand for an audit
into all COVID-19-related expenses over discrepancies in government expenditure
data.
However, responding to questions, Mr Ofori-Atta said the government is
transparent on its expenditure items and will continue to operate an open-door
policy and welcome any opportunity to engage in the national interest.
“Mr Speaker, at this juncture, I wish to dispel the notion that there have been
inconsistencies in government data on COVID-19. His Excellency the President
intimated during that State of the Nation Address on 30th March 2022, that we
had mobilized about Gh¢17.7 billion since 2020 to fight the pandemic.
“We have subsequently reconciled the data and I can report that as of end-May,
2022, we have mobilized Gh¢18.19 billion to mitigate the effect of the
pandemic. Again, when His Excellency the Vice President indicated on 7th April
2022 at the National TESCON Conference that Government had spent Gh¢8.1 billion
on Covid-19, it was within the context of expenditures for 2020 as I have
already indicated,” the Minister said.
The Minister explained that out of the Gh¢18.19 billion expended to mitigate
the effect of the pandemic, GH¢1,550 million was disbursed under the Support to
Households Programme, GH¢1,049 million was allocated to health
response-supplies equipment and relief for health workers, GH¢600 million was
released to begin the construction across the country and a further GH¢763.92
million has been released to continue the construction of the 111 district
hospitals.
He said the government also programmed a total amount of GH¢875 million for
security operations, evacuation of Ghanaians stranded abroad and coordination
of MMDAs’ sanitation and disinfection exercises.
Additionally, he said in line with measures to stabilize the economy after the
devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government implemented
programmes to revitalize the economy and protect jobs. This includes the GH¢600
million utilized under Coronavirus Alleviation Programme Business Support
Scheme (CAPBuSS) by the NBSSI now the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).
With regards to vaccine procurement, the Minister indicated that GH¢929.30
million was allocated. A total amount of GH¢775.82 million was released for the
purchase of Sputnik V, the Janssen COV SARS 2 COVID Vaccines and the Emergency
deployment of vaccines in schools among another key government disbursement.
Source: King Edward
Ambrose Washman Addo