Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed Parliament’s Committee on Finance and Health to investigate the COVID-19 expenditures by government.
According to him the investigation had become necessary to clear all the suspicions regarding the COVID-19 expenses and to allay the fears of Ghanaians.
“…I direct that the Committee of Finance ably supported by the Committee of Health investigate and inquire into the total receipts referred to as Covid-19 funds and how those funds were applied for the betterment of the people of this country”
“It is very important for us to do that to allay the fears of Ghanaians, and this matter is of a serious concern. So,
I want to add that the committees should expedite action on this matter and report.”
The Speaker’ directive follows the Minority’s demand for an audit into all COVID-19 related expenses over inconsistencies in government expenditure figures.
Speaker Bagbin also explained that some agencies such as the COVID-19 Trust Fund received some funds and disbursed same on their own and that the Finance Ministry cannot be compelled to account for them on their behalf.
He stated that Article 103(3) is different from the function of the Auditor General (AG), saying there is difference between investigating and enquiring into activities and administration of ministries and department and auditing which is conducted by the AG.
He argued that Parliament cannot be disenabled from investigating and enquiring into the utilisation of COVID-19 funds because the AG is going to audit the accounts.
“Some work has been done, but that justified that we should not perform our duty of ensuring that the money was utilised efficiently, effectively, and economically. It is very important to do that to allay the fears of Ghanaians.”
Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu led the Minority side to call on the Speaker to setup a committee to investigate the various MDAs, where most of the COVID funds were spent to account for it in detail.
They argued that the Finance Minister’s figures on the total expenditure for the management of the COVID outbreak is not coordinated with that of President Akufo-Addo.
“Mr Speaker, we demand that you refer this statement to a committee of Parliament whether it is an existing or standing committee to probe COVID expenditure beyond the headline numbers. And for this committee to demand expenditure returns so that we will be seen protecting the public purse.”
However, Majority side strongly opposed the call by the Minority side for the House to setup to a committee enquire into the COVID-19 expenditures.
They argued that the Auditor General is the institution charged by the constitution to audit the government’s total expenses.
