The Ministry of Finance has denied media reports suggesting that the government has so far spent GHC 1.7 billion on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Media reports had suggested even though ¢2.5 billion was approved for the 2021 budget on Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP) to support households, relief to health workers, soft loans for micro, small and medium enterprise, only ¢1.7 billion was utilized.

The Ministry in a statement however dismissed this claim.

It clarified that the said GH 1.7 million highlights expenditures on only two items under the COVID-19 related programmes.

“The Ministry hereby informs the general public that these publications are incorrect. The GH 1.7 billion reflects expenditures on only two items under the COVID-19 related expenditures, namely, COVID-19 Alleviation Programme 1 (CAP1) and Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan 1. Other COVID-19 expenditures were COVID-19 Alleviation Programme 2 (CAP2), COVID-19 Preparedness Plan 2, Provision of Health Infrastructure, Seed Fund Capitalization of Development Bank , among others.”

Member of Parliament (MP) for Yapei-Kusawgu, John Abdulai Jinapor has also taken on the government for pegging the fiscal impact of COVID-19 expenditure at GHS19 billion.

The legislator says the claim is inaccurate.

In a release to raise the alarm, Mr. Jinapor said, although the amount was the budgeted figure, only GHS 1.7 billion was used based on the government’s own 2021 budget statement presented to Parliament.

John Jinapor also mentioned that it is even difficult to understand why the government will pretend to have heavily spent to manage the health crisis and attribute current economic challenges to the pandemic.’