The Minority in Parliament has petitioned the Auditor-General to conduct a unique audit into GHS280.3 million that was allocated by the federal government for the stipulation of food, water, and also cleanliness under the Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP).
In a letter to the Auditor-General signed by the Minority Chief Whip, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka and the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson on June 3, 2020, the Minority among other things are calling for a special audit into expense on:
- The amount of GHS40million, which was assigned for the purchase as well as circulation of food bundles and also hot dishes to vulnerable groups in lockdown locations.
2. The amount of GHS40.3 million, which was allocated to the Ghana National Buffer Stock Company for the procurement as well as circulation of dry food to the vulnerable groups in lockdown.
3. The amount of GHS200 million, allocated for the arrangement of water and also hygiene especially the quantity invested in the supply of water takers to denied in areas.
According to the letter, Minority says it has received proof a few of the items meant for the prone were marketed by persons in the government.
“The low coverage and haphazard implementation of the distribution of free hot meals and dry food to the vulnerable groups, as well as the supply of water to deprived communities, gives us cause for concern that these funds were not utilized judiciously by the government.”
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“This is particularly so, as we have sighted media reports of state-sponsored COVID-19 relief items meant for the vulnerable, being sold in the market by functionaries of the ruling New Patriotic Party in Kumasi and other parts of the country.”
“Furthermore, we have in our possession, an audio recording from a Kumasi based Silva FM station, in which Market women at Tafo Pankrono have confirmed that eggs meant for distribution to vulnerable groups under the CAP have been diverted and sold on the mark by persons associated with government functionaries in the area,” the letter added.
