The funds intended for the fight against COVD-19, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have not been misappropriated in any way.
He stated that the funds had been utilized appropriately for the purpose of combating the pandemic.
On Wednesday, March 8, while delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, he stated that “Covid funds were not missed.
It is vitally important that we do not let the people’s trust slip that the emergency situation that we were all experiencing together was being exploited. There was no dishonorable behavior associated with the use of Civid funds.”
Among other things, he mentioned the fact that frontline health workers were provided with tax relief equal to fifty percent for the period.
In addition to that, he mentioned that during the time period in question, the prices that Ghanaians had to pay for electricity and water were lowered.
This follows closely on the heels of a recent audit report on spending by Covid that was issued by the Auditor General.
According to the report put together by the Auditor General, “During our review, we noted that senior management staff and other supporting staff of the Ministry of Information paid themselves a total amount of GH151,500.00 as COVID-19 risk allowance for coming to work during the lockdown.”
In addition to this, it stated that the Ministry of Health (MoH) had entered into a contract that was signed on the 15th of December 2021 for the delivery of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances with a total value of US$4,049,460.12, of which US$607,419.02 had been paid to vide PV No. IPF 22-007 of the 2nd of September 2022.
These ambulances are scheduled to be delivered on the 15th of January 2022.
On the other hand, according to the report, the ambulances had not been delivered as of November 28th, 2022.