Ranking member of the finance committee in Parliament and the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam Constituency, Cassiel Ato Forson says the finance minister alone can not accurately account for the covid-19 expenditure.
Commenting on the Floor of Parliament after the Finance Minister presented a report on the Covid-19 Expenditure, he said the finance minister is only responsible for approving funds to the designated areas where needed.
Mr. Ken Ofori Atta in Parliament on Wednesday 22nd June 2022 stated that government programmed funding of One Billion, Two Hundred and Three Million, Seven Hundred and Fifteen Thousand, Eighty-Five Ghana Cedis and Seventy-Seven Pesewas from the Contingency Fund (Gh¢1,203,715,085.77), to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme which focused on achieving five (5) key objectives
According to him, the programmes included limiting and stopping the importation of the virus; containing its spread; providing adequate care for the sick; limiting the impact of the virus on social and economic life; and inspiring the expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self-reliance.
He noted that 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 utilization was Gh¢12,036.41 million.
Mr. Ofori Atta said in 2020, a total amount of GH¢11,162 million which includes the CAP was programmed for COVID-19-related expenditure, and out of this amount a total of Gh¢8,122 million was utilized.
He hinted that the amount was utilized to provide support to households; supply Equipment and provide relief to health workers (Health Response); Health Infrastructure; Security Operations, Evacuations, Quarantine, and Coordination; Economic Relief; Stabilization and Revitalization; and Covid-19 Complementary Releases.
However, Mr. Ato Forson said to ensure the succinctly of budget, the Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin must form an ad-hoc committee to investigate how the expenses occurred.
He further recommended that the committee must call on all metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies to submit a report on how the funds allocated to them were used.
Meanwhile, the vice-chair of the finance committee, Patrick Boamah says there is no need for an ad hoc committee to scrutinize the report as suggested by the ranking member of the finance committee, Ato Forson.
In his attempt to refute Hon. Ato Forson’s comment, he said “it is absurd to set up a committee to look into the expenses of Covid 19 when all benefited from it”.
Source: ATLFMNEWS
