The Auditor General’s report on the government of Ghana’s Covid-19 expenditures for the months of March 2020 to June 2022, released on December 30, 2022, has been acknowledged, according to the Ministry of Finance.
The Minister of Finance praised the Auditor General for swiftly releasing the Audit report and publishing the Special Audit Report of the Government of Ghana’s Covid-19 expenditure, which was ordered by the Minister of Finance on July 14, 2022.
To help the public better understand the issues mentioned in the report, the Ministry did, however, provide the following context and explanations for some of the research’s findings:
- The audit report confirms the total resources mobilized for the Covid-19 response over the period March 2020 to June 2022 at GH¢21,844, 189, 185.24.
- As indicated on page 7, paragraph 18 of the report, the funds mobilized were to address the following two key interventions: i. finance direct Covid-19 intervention expenditures; and ii. support the funding gap in the budget which was occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on revenue mobilization.
- Hence, as reported on page 11, paragraph 31 of the report, the 53.8% and 46.2% spent on direct Covid-19 interventions and general budget support respectively were consistent with the mandate approved by Parliament.
- The Ministry of Finance coordinated the mobilization and disbursement of funds for the Covid-19 responses by the Government in accordance with the Public Financial Management Act, to ensure the timely release of funds to save lives, livelihoods, and property.
The Ministry acknowledged the findings from the Auditor General and assures the public that action is being taken to address all concerns. According to the announcement, the Ministry is now pursuing the following interventions:
- Meetings are being organized to engage with the implementing Agencies to evaluate actions taken to implement the audit recommendations in the audit report.
- Preparation of an Emergency Expenditure Management Guideline. This guideline will provide the government with administrative protocols in times of emergency such as the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure compliance with relevant PM regulations whiles providing timely responses.
In order to ensure the proper use of tax income to the maximum benefit of residents using existing budgetary and accountability processes in government, the Ministry of Finance said it would continue to use its best efforts to enforce and improve spending management and accountability.
