According to Ken Ofori-Atta, minister of finance, the government used COVID-19 funds wisely to help protect lives and preserve jobs.
Every dollar raised, according to Mr. Ofori-Atta, was wisely used to strengthen the nation’s capacity to contain the pandemic.
He added that the pandemic was the biggest shock to the economy to date, which is why the nation decided to use all of its resources to try to limit its effects on people’s lives and businesses.
- 41 African countries are hit by food, fuel and financial crisis – Ofori-Atta
- E-levy deductions will begin in May, according to Ofori-Atta.
Answering questions on how funds mobilised to support the COVID-19 fight were expended, the minister said it was untrue that the government was running away from accountability. “Mr. Speaker, I believe that this presentation demonstrates Government’s commitment to accountability and transparency. All programmed, mobilised and utilised funds have been duly reported on. As a Government, we continue to operate an open-door policy and welcome any opportunity to engage in the national interest,” he said.
He explained that an amount of GH¢18.19 billion was mobilised in resources while GH¢12.04 billion was spent.
He said the amount spent to contain the spread and mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on lives and properties.
Mr Ofori-Atta said the amount was expended between April 2020, when the pandemic struck the country, and May this year.
He also dismissed concerns that there were inconsistencies in the COVID-19 expenditures, stating that whatever was mobilised and spent had been documented and well accounted for.
The minister was answering questions on how much the country mobilised in resources to fight the pandemic and how much was actually spent.
“I wish to dispel the notion that there have been some inconsistencies in government data on COVID-19,” he said, noting that the expenditure captured by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his earlier presentation to the nation was in tandem with records at the ministry.
He thus urged the public to dismiss the rumours on data inconsistencies, as the funds were prudently used to protect lives and mitigate the effects of the pandemic on the economy.
