Speaker calls for further probe into utilization of COVID19 Funds

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Speaker of Parliament has directed the Finance and Health Committees to conduct an inquiry into the utilization of the COVID 19 Funds.  
 
The Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta on June 22, 2022 had presented accounts of monies approved by parliament for utilization of the COVID 19 relief programs expenditure to Parliament.
According to some minority members the figures presented today were different from what he presented in earlier statements and so called for the constitution of an Adhoc committee to look into the matter.
 
The majority on the other hand retorted that there is no need setting up another committee.
 
Leader Osei Kyie Mensah Bonsu said the ministers’ responsibility is not to give detailed accounts of how the money was used by the various MMDAs and that he can only give expenditure allocations of how the money was used.” Rather, it is the duty of “the subject matter parliamentary committees to trace and track the allocations to see if they are put to proper use.” He said.
The speaker, after consulting articles 175 and 178 agreed to have the matter inquired into by already existing parliamentary committees.
 
He said “… there are still a lot of gaps that we need to throw light on. Apart from the figures that our attention has been drawn to, between what he said today and earlier statements, which are contained in a document… there is still the need for investigation and enquiry into the matter.”

 

He assigned the Finance and Health Committees to probe into the figures and how they were expended. “I direct that the committee of Finance ably supported by the committee of health should investigate and inquire into the total receipt referred to as COVID 19 Funds and how those funds were applied for the betterment of the people of this country.” The Speaker directed.