Parliament has approved 11.8 billion cedis supplementary budget amidst protest from the minority over Covid-19 expenditure.
According to the NDC MPs, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta failed to adequately account for monies approved for the coronavirus pandemic.
The NDC MPs also argued the 11.1 billion cedis out of the 11.8 billion being sought by the finance minister in his supplementary budget has already been spent with no transparency.
The minority also questioned a 300 million cedis extra allocation to the EC and the NIA for their work.
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta however denied engaging in any opaque activities.
According to the minister, approval of the supplementary budget will help initial measures to ensure the economy recovers from shocks from the Covid-19.
He said “this supplementary budget of 11.9 billion is to enable the government respond to the adverse socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. the pandemic has had and continuously had dire consequences both globally and domestically.”
“The request for supplementary estimate has therefore be necessitated by the need for government to incur additional health expenditure arising from the Covid-19 pandemic including the need to provide incentives to health workers who have risked their own lives and continue to do so to provide care to Ghanaians,” he added.
Addressing the media, minority spokesperson on finance Cassiel Ato Forson and his colleague from Bolgatanga Central Isaac Adongo demanded a parliamentary probe into the Covid-19 expenses.
They insist government is hiding behind the pandemic to dissipate the country’s meagre resources.
Ato Forson for instance further charged the Auditor General’s department to urgently act on an earlier petition sent by the minority for auditing of the Covid-19 Expenditure.
Chairman for the finance committee Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah however, accused the NDC MPs of attempts to circumvent modes of accountability.
According to Dr. Assibey-Yeboah the Auditor General at the appropriate time will audit such expenses and present the outcome to parliament for PAC to consider.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh
