According to Ken Ofori Atta, the finance minister, GH$12.1 million was spent on the free food that was supplied during the early phases of the Covid-19 epidemic.
He said that this sum was utilised to cover the cost of providing individuals in Accra, Tema, Kasoa, and Greater Kumasi with hot meals that were packaged.
Speaking to Parliament on June 22, the Minister said that 2,744,723 people in total benefited from the free meals that was provided during that time.
The cost of NADMO's delivery of packaged food to some areas of Greater Kumasi, he explained, was included in the total amount.
"During the lockdown, about 2,744,723 people were supplied by the costs associated with providing hot meals. Insert code
He also refuted allegations that the government was secretive about its COVID-19 spending.
He said that in accordance with the government's commitment to accountability and openness, all money that have been allocated, mobilised, and used in connection with the coronavirus epidemic have been properly reported.
His speech follows the Minority NDC MPs' call for an audit of all Covid-19-related costs because to inconsistencies in the government's expenditure figures.
In response to inquiries, Mr. Ofori-Atta said the administration has been honest about its expenditure items, would maintain an open-door policy, and welcomes any chance to work for the sake of the country.
"Mr. Speaker, at this point, I want to refute the claim that Covid-19 government data has been inconsistent. The President hinted that we have mobilised around GH17.7 billion since 2020 to combat the epidemic at the State of the Nation Address on March 30, 2022.
"We later harmonised the statistics, and I can now say that as of the end of May 2022, we had mobilised GH18.19 billion to lessen the pandemic's impact. Again, the Vice President's statement that the government had spent Gh8.1 billion on Covid-19 on April 7, 2022 at the National TESCON Conference was made in the context of expenditures for 2020, as I have already stated, the Minister added.
The Minister detailed how, of the GH18.19 billion spent to lessen the impact of the pandemic, GH1,550 million was given out under the Support to Households Programme, GH1,049 million was allotted to health response-supplies, equipment, and relief for health workers, GH600 million was released to start the construction across the nation, and a further GH763.92 million has been released to continue the construction of the 111 district hospitals.