The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that COVID-19 related expenditure for the years 2020 and 2021 amounted to GH¢15,763.48 million out of which the actual utilization was Gh¢12,036.41 million.

Mr. Ofori Atta made this known while addressing Parliament on Wednesday in a status update on COVID 19 Expenditure.

According to the Finance Minister, in 2020, a total amount of GH¢11,162 million (this includes the CAP) was programmed for COVID-19 related expenditure. Out of this amount a total of Gh¢8,122 million was utilized.

He added that the amount was utilized to provide support to households; supply Equipment and provide relief to health workers (Health Response); Health Infrastructure; Security Operations, Evacuations, Quarantine and Coordination; Economic Relief; Stabilization and Revitalization; and Covid-19 Complementary Releases.

Ken Ofori-Atta further explained that at the end of December 2021 total utilization was GH¢3,914.40 million representing 85 percent.

” Mr. Speaker, a total amount of GH¢4,601 million was programmed in the 2021 budget for COVID-19 related expenses. At the end of December 2021, total utilization was GH¢3,914.40 million representing 85 percent utilization” He explained.

The minister quashed reports and claims by the Minority of dissipation of COVID-19 expenditure.

He stated that Government spearheaded by President Nana Akufo Addo has been transparent and accountable with regards to funds mobilized and utilized on the COVID-19 expenditure.

“Mr. Speaker, at this juncture, I wish to dispel the notion that there have been inconsistencies in government data on COVID-19. His Excellency the President intimated during the State of the Nation Address on 30th March 2022, that we had mobilized about GH¢17.7 billion since 2020 to fight the pandemic,”

“We have subsequently reconciled the data and I can report that as of end-May, 2022, we have mobilized GH¢18.19 billion to mitigate the effect of the pandemic. Again, when His Excellency the Vice President indicated on 7th April 2022 at the National TESCON Conference that government had spent GH¢8.1 billion on Covid-19, it was within the context of expenditures for 2020 as I have already indicated,” Ofori Atta concluded.

He told the Speaker that  in the wake of the pandemic, Government took a bold decision to provide health infrastructure in the districts and regions that did not have a District or Regional Hospital.

In all, 111 District, Regional and Mental Hospitals (Agenda 111) were programmed for construction. A total of GH¢600 million was released to begin the construction across the country in 2020.

In the 2021 budget, an amount of GH¢779.05 million was programmed for the continuation of the Agenda 111 projects. Out of this, an amount of GH¢763.92 million has been released.