The Opposition in Parliament is disappointed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo’s denial of reports that the government blatantly misappropriated funds allocated for the country’s fight against COVID-19.
In its 2020 report on the government’s COVID-19 expenditures, the Auditor General stated that only 25% of the US$ 2.5 billion mobilized for the battle against the pandemic, or GH5.5 million, was spent on health.
According to the Auditor General’s audit report, the Information Ministry inappropriately rewarded its staff GH151,500 for COVID-19 insurance while failing to provide $81 million in government-paid vaccinations.
The state is alleged to have spent US$607,419.02 out of a total of $4,049,460.12 on the purchase of 26 ambulances, however, the vehicles were never delivered.
The balance of the funds, according to the study, were spent on government programs such as Free SHS and LEAP, among others.
Nevertheless, President Akufo-Addo stated in his State of the Nation Address on March 8, 2023, that the COVID monies were not misappropriated.
“The economic consequences of the pandemic have been devastating. It is precise because the economic fallout from the pandemic was so widespread and long-lasting that it is important to show clearly that the COVID funds were not misused. It is critical that we do not lose the confidence of the people that a crisis that they were led to believe we were all in together was abused for personal gain,” the President said.
In response, Minority Chief Whip Kwame Governs Agbodza stated that the President’s statement on the topic surprised them.
“I’m somehow extremely disappointed in the President who sought once again to even clear members of his government who are suspected of doing wrong things in the COVID-19 expenditure.
“It doesn’t lie in the mouth of the President to decide to become an auditor of his own government by pretending that nothing went wrong with the COVID expenditure. Mr. President you are not an auditor, leave that to the professionals to do,” Minority Chief Whip said.
