The Builsa South Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. Clement Apaak has slammed President Akufo-Addo over his loud silence on the Auditor General’s Report on COVID-19 expenditure.
The Auditor-General has disclosed that the government spent ¢10 billion of monies mobilised for Covid-19 activities on budget support.
According to the A-G, a total of ¢21,844,189,185.24 was mobilised for the fight against the pandemic.
However, out of this amount, only ¢11,750,683,059.11 was spent on curbing the spread of the virus.
In a statement dated January 29th, 2023 the lawmaker called on President Akufo-Addo to emulate the President of Malawi on how he has spelt out actions to be taken against persons found culpable of embezzling COVID-19 funds in his country.
“Unlike the President of Malawi, Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, by his refusal to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report indirectly confirms the widely held belief that he has no interest in fighting corruption. This is the conclusion of known Anti-corruption crusaders in Ghana.
“The legitimate expectation of the people of Ghana is, that those who have embezzled, dissipated, and misappropriated COVID-19 funds be held accountable – nothing more nothing less,” he stated.
Below is the full statement from the MP
COVID-19 expenditure audit report and Akufo-Addo’s posture
In some African nations, like Malawi (see attached video), the President addressed his nation on the back of an audit report on COVID-19 expenditure. The President of Ghana, who won an election in 2016, largely on a promise to fight corruption, seems lethargic to acknowledge an audit report on COVID-19 expenditure, even in passing. Not even a tweet or facebook post.
The President of Malawi addressed the people of Malawi in relation to exposed corruption, malfeasance, and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds. He passionately told his nation what consequences and sanctions awaited those responsible, including some of his own ministers and other appointees. In Ghana it is the opposite. The President doesn’t seem interested in the content of the COVID-19 expenditure Auditor-General’s Report, which has equally exposed acts of corruption, malfeasance, and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds in Ghana.
Trying to excuse the nonchalant posture of the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo, with regards to this scandalous Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 expenditure, is untenable. Claims made by NPP apologists, that Akufo-Addo is only being cautious because infractions captured in the Auditor-General’s report have usually been resolved at sittings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, is fallacious.
Yes, lots of funds have been retrieved as a result of disallows by the Auditor General and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee at it’s sittings. The Public Accounts Committees of the 7th and 8th Parliaments have made several recommendations for the prosecution of persons whose conducts have offended the procurement laws of Ghana, or have led to the loss of public funds. And it’s important to state, that when the Public Accounts Committee recommends prosecution, the Attorney General is expected to act.
Even so, given the nature and magnitude of what the Special Audit has uncovered, and the public anger and revulsion it has created, the President’s loud silence is most revealing, not shocking.
Unlike the President of Malawi, Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, by his refusal to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report indirectly confirms the widely held belief that he has no interest in fighting corruption. This is the conclusion of known Anti-corruption crusaders in Ghana.
The legitimate expectation of the people of Ghana is, that those who have embezzled, dissipated, and misappropriated COVID-19 funds be held accountable – nothing more nothing less.
In Solidarity,
Dr. Clement Apaak, M.P, Builsa South
January 29th, 2023
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
