Survey: Corruption Embroiled Pandemic Expenditure

An Afrobarometer survey by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has shown that Ghanaians believe the government was not honest with COVID-19 funds.

CDD asked the question “Considering all of the funds and resources that were available to the government for combating and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, how much do you think was lost or stolen due to corruption?”

In response, 44% said a lot was lost or stolen; 28% said some were stolen or lost;11% said a little was stolen or lost; and 6% believe none was stolen or lost.

This is in spite of the accounts rendered by the government before Parliament on COVID-19 expenditures.

The government, in June 2022, accounted that an accumulated GHc19 billion was drawn from the GoG Contingency Fund (GHc1,204,000,000), World Bank Group Funds (GHC1,334,000,000), IMF (GHC5,852,950,000), AfDB (GHC405,650,000), EU (GHC504,000,000), and BOG – COVID-19 Bonds (GHC10,000,000,000) to support the budget.

Ken Ofori Atta, the Finance Minister said expenditures in 2020 and 2021, comprising Support to Households, Health Response – Equipment Supplies, Health Infrastructure, Security Operations, Economic Relief, COVID-19 Vaccines, and Other COVID Related amounted to GHC12,036.41.

During the presentation of the 2022 Mid-Year Budget review on July 25, 2022, Ofori Atta said he has requested the Auditor-General to audit the covid expenditures.

“Mr Speaker, last month I provided a comprehensive update on COVID-19 expenditures to this House. I welcomed your directive to the Committees of Finance and Health to further understand the expenditures incurred by MDAs under COVID. To complement this accountability process, I have also requested the Auditor-General to audit the COVID-19 expenditures in line with its statutory obligations.”

Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini