Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, will speak at the dispatch box in Parliament on Thursday to inform the House on the government's spending since the COVID-19 epidemic hit the country in 2020.
After the House accepted a request from him to lower the threshold from US$300 million to US$100 million to fund the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme, he is set to be questioned about the amount withdrawn from the Ghana Stabilisation Fund (GSF) (CAP).
The government also obtained a $100 million and a $1 billion loan from the Bretton Woods Institutions, as well as establishing the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, into which people and institutions have contributed, and Mr. Ofori-Atta is expected to answer for its usage.
The Minority of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has demanded accountability for all COVID-19 expenses.
Speaker Alban Bagbin has put a hold on Parliament's approval of a €75 million loan from the European Investment Bank for the COVID-19 Response Program, seeking responsibility from the Finance Ministry.
"The Ministry of Finance is required to account for all funds received for the operation of COVID-19. On May 27, 2022, Mr. Bagbin declared, "Only after that would this House consider granting or rejecting another loan."
The Majority Caucus, on the other hand, emphasized that the Finance Minister was not avoiding accountability as the Speaker implied, implying that Mr. Bagbin misjudged the mood and failed to transmit the House's sentiment.
Because the Speaker lacks a distinct identity in his eyes, he is unable to explain his own decisions without resorting to the House.
Accountability from the previous year
Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, informed Parliament on the COVID-19 evacuation of Ghanaian migrants on July 22, 2021.
According to her, the government spent GH8.725 million and US$1.867 million in China and the United Arab Emirates, respectively, on repatriating Ghanaians.
She claimed quarantine and flying tickets were included in the cost, and that an extra US$475,895 was spent on evacuating people in West and Central African nations, as well as GH44,460,530 on quarantining evacuees in 85 hotels spanning Accra, Prampram, Bolgatanga, Takoradi, and Kasoa.
Some private persons, including the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong, made donations, according to the ministry.
She said that the MP alone raised $428,000 and personally gave $200,000 to aid in the evacuation of Lebanese refugees, while the Sethi Brothers also provided GH200,000 to help with the expense of quarantine for certain UK evacuees.
For the fourteen-day quarantine period, she said the cost included hotel accommodations, three square meals, and water every day.