President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo says Ghana’s efforts in managing the Covid-19 pandemic four years ago earned the country several plaudits on the global stage.
In his State of the Nation Address on Friday, he said the country’s enhanced measures protected lives and led to lightning speed vaccination of its population.
The president, whose speech was largely a reflection of his achievements in the last eight years, said the nation’s pandemic programme had set an example for other countries on the African continent to follow.
“It is worth emphasising the point that with the help of the Ghanaian people and guidance of Almighty, we managed the pandemic in our country to the admiration of the whole world. Indeed, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Ghana emerged as a leader in Africa, managing the crisis with a balanced approach that prioritises life and livelihoods.
“We were among the first countries in the world to secure vaccines and roll out a comprehensive vaccination programme, establishment of our own vaccine facility under the supervision of the national vaccine institute that was created by an Act of Parliament, the collaboration of international partners, is a testimony to our resolve to build resilience in our healthcare system,” the president told parliamentarians during his speech.
He added that his government had opened the Covid spending books to Parliament for audit with the goal of promoting transparency and accountability “during a time of crisis”.
The president said the outbreak had exposed the country’s inadequate health facilities which he aimed to improve with massive investments through the ‘Agenda 111’ plan.
He stated that although the hospitals were at various stages of completion, he hoped the incoming Mahama administration will realise the project when it takes office.
In January 2023, the Auditor General released a report detailing government spending on the pandemic. The report, which involved expenditure from March 2020 to June 2022 generated misgivings among the public about how funds were appropriated as the nation grappled with the unprecedented disease.
