President Akufo-Addo has said that Covid-19 funds was properly utilised for it intended purpose.
Delivering the State of the Nation Address in a Parliament on March 8, 2023, the President indicated the Covid-19 funds was not misappropriated as communicated by some Ghanaians.
“Nothing dishonourable was done with Covid-19 funds.” President Akufo-Addo insists
In May 2022, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin directed the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta to appear before the House to give a detailed account of all monies approved for the utilization of Covid-19 related expenditures.
This comes after concerns raised by the Minority side in relation to a loan agreement between the Government of Ghana and the European Investment Bank (EIB) for an amount of Seven-Five Million Euros (€75,000,000) for the COVID-19 Health Response Ghana Project.
Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, Chairman of the Finance who moved the motion for the House to adopt the report of the Finance Committee stated the objective of the facility was to finance some of the health issues arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic that hit Ghana in 2020.
He said the loan facility which is priced would go a long way to help provide health infrastructure and related health services.
However, Mr Casiel Ato Forson, Ranking Member on the Finance Committee criticized the government for failing to account properly to Parliament the monies approved for the utilization for COVID expenses.
He said the COVID-19 expenses were piling up and the House had also been called upon to borrow another €75,000,000 in addition to the original amount that the country spent.