Minority Petitions Auditor-General over Government’s expenditure during lockdown
The Minority in Parliament has formally petitioned the Auditor-General to audit government’s expenditure during the lockdown.
The minority wants a thorough audit on food and water government supplied to the vulnerable during the three week partial lockdown imposed on parts of the country due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The petition invokes Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), and calls on the Auditor-General to undertake a Special Audit into the expenditure on the GHS 280.3 million that was allocated for the provision of food and water under the Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP).
The Petition was jointly signed by the former deputy minister of finance, Cassiel Ato Forson and Minority Chief Whip, Muntaka Mubarak.
According to them, the petition will clear all doubts about how the funds were utilised.
Background
The Minority in Parliament requested the Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo to conduct an audit into government’s expenditure under the coronavirus alleviation programme.
Minority spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson stated his party had received reports that some Municipal Chief Executives diverted some relief items meant for the vulnerable.
The Minority said their call for an audit is to ensure accountability.
Ato Forson added that government’s decision to remain quiet about monies spent during the lockdown raises suspicion.
He said he suspects that government is trying to massage the figures hence delay in rendering accounts to the people of Ghana.
In reaction to this, deputy minister for Information, Pius Enam Hadzide said initiatives under the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP) have not come under their logical conclusion for any proper accounts to be made.
