The Health Minister-designate, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has said that $100 million allocated to the Ministry (MoH) has been exahusted.
At his vetting on February 10, 2021, Mr Agyemang-Manu disclosed to the Appointments Committee that in addition to the exhausted amount, there is a loan yet to mature for use by the Ministery.
“Initially we [MoH] got $100 million allocation to spend on COVID-19. All that has been exhausted. We have gotten another money that is just about to mature for us [MoH] to utilise and that is about $120 million from the World Bank. It is a loan.”
It must be noted that the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, reading his budget to Parliament from the onset, made the public aware that the government had secured an amount of $100 million for use to manage the Covid-19 situation though the minority side of the House questioned its availability.
“Mr. Speaker, as announced by President Nana Akufo-Addo on March 11, 2020, during his first broadcast on the coronavirus pandemic, Government has earmarked the cedi equivalent of US$100 million for the fight against COVID-19.
“Contrary to views of some sceptics that the money is not available, I wish to assure you that the money has been secured and is available to be disbursed in accordance with our public financial management procedures and rules. Indeed, from day one, Government has not stopped spending in the fight against COVID-19,” he confirmed.
