A leading member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) wants the government to render account on the GHc40 million used to feed Ghanaians during the COVID-19 3 weeks lockdown period.
Johnson Asiedu Nketia, NDC General Secretary, believes Ghanaians have been shortchanged since the president lifted the lockdown just a week after the said funds were said to have been disbursed.
As a way of mitigating against any hardship that some Ghanaians were likely to experience following President Akufo-Addo's decision to impose restrictions on the movement of persons and goods within some areas in the country in the wake of the novel Coronavirus, the government decided to set aside a significant amount of money to feed the vulnerable hard hit by the directive.
Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP)
The Finance Committee of Parliament approved for the government to access GHC1.2billion from the Contingency Fund to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP). The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta presented the policy document on CAP to Parliament seeking approval to spend GHC1.2 billion.
This came after the Minority in Parliament asked the government to give details of the funding requested by the Minister to tackle coronavirus and its impact on the economy.
Details of CAP
The Minister explained that GHC280 million will be used for food packages and hot meals while GHC40 million will go to the National Buffer Stock Company.
Meanwhile, GHC 200 million will be used to pay for bills on water and sanitation, GHC241 million will cover tax waiver for health personnel.
He added that GHC 80 million will be spent on the allowance for health staff, GHC2 million will go into the transportation for health workers GHC600 million will be disbursed as soft loans to businesses.
Accountability Is What We Demand
But speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' program, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah questioned how the monies could have been dissipated within this short period of time and wants accountability.
"This is the taxpayers' money and you cannot use it in the name of COVID-19 without letting the people of Ghana know how you disbursed it . . . the people you claim to have fed are still hungry and to cap it all, you have lifted the lockdown for them to go and fend for themselves .
"It is good the president lifted the lockdown because clearly, a lot of people would have died out of hunger . . . the government claimed to be sharing food to the vulnerable, but lots of people were not beneficiaries.
"This is why the government must come out and account to Ghanaians how the funds during this COVID-19 period were utilized . . . how some members of the public were identified as vulnerable yet did not earn," the NDC General Secretary stated.
Listen to him in the video below
Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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MR ASIEDU NKESTIA, don't waste your time asking them to account for the money. All you need to tell Ghanaians is that the reason why guy the government didn't lockdown the whole country is because nana addo want to hoard the monies meant for supporting Ghanaians in COVID 19 is for purposes for campaigning. Instead of using the money to give relief for Ghanaians who would lose their job as a result of total lockdown, they are hoarding the money for campaign. All the government is doing to fight COVID 19 is testing and contact tracing. The amount of money the government has taken is way too much for just testing and contact tracing, so Mr asiedu nkestia explain to Ghanaians take the nana addo is hoarding their money and allowing them to be infected with COVID 19. All nana addo has to do is to identify some needy and vulnerables in society as well as affected workers and send the both mobile money and uncooked food, then lockdown the nation, rather than lifting this ban and making the spread go through the roof.
Ful.llish old man... Tell John Airbus Ford Mahama to first account for the Airbus bribe he took first. These ndc thi.eves are annoying hypocrates.
Teddy and so called Kweku nti Ghana has nothing to account to your ndc. Who did ndc account to when in power? Who did you account to about the GITMO2 and who did you account to about the EBOLA fund? Moy3 agyim*ifuo moate ! Asiedu Nketia opanin to*oto ! I see their frustration is driving them to a level they are losing their minds.They are like a drowning person struggling to stick to a snake and anything that comes their way, they not making sense at all.Opposition parties in Ghana are silent and just watching ndc going bunkers they are even surprised the so called largest opposition party has turned into a concert party with Ghanaians teasing, insulting and laughing at them.
Infact, all those insulting Gen Mosquito for what he simply asked for could themselves be described as morons, dummies, zombies and robots whose brains must be powered with devices before they are able to reason for themselves. It is a gospel fact that every transaction, business or event involving this admin has been characterized by corruption. Even distribution of food to the vulnerables who were severely affected by the lockdowns largely favoured NPP sympathisers. Family and friends, nepotism has become the order of the day in this country. Mark my words- sooner than later, there would be reports of in-fightng game, accusations and counter accusations, blame game and above all, "Adidigya, over- invoicing bribery and Chobo in the management of the fund. NPP has lost credibility in the management of the economy hence the call by Gen Mosquito for early rendition of accounts. This Party.
Asiedu Nketia and Akando"gyimigymii saa Gyimigymii'ndc ***barred word***'***barred word***
Akoa wei ne gy*mii. Is it your money? Was money taken from you? You just want to be relevant whilst in opposition. Well, your incompetence is still not lost on us. You will stay in opposition till thy kingdom comes. Nansins!
ASIEDU NKATSIA MUST BE THANKFUL TO RAWLINGS AND ASK HIM WHY AND HOW HE BROUGHT HIM INTO GHANA POLITICS.where ARE THE INTERLECTUALS?WITH HIM,NDC,AND JOHN DRAMANI MAHANAH AMA GHANA HAS NO FUTURE.salute
Ghana indeed is a failed nation led by a clueless president who had relied on tribal sentiments to rule. unfortunately majority of the citizens are beginning to wise up and this is creating problem What we have to understand and agree is that every wise man was once a fuuuuul.
This is purely a propaganda stunt by the NDC. When in Ghana's political history has the auditor general been assigned to do daily audits on disbursements for an on-going project of policy implementation. These NDC guys cannot be serious, On the matter of people being Hungary, 2 weeks lockdown is not made them Hungary. They have been poor and Hungary since time immemorial which included P/NDC periods of governance. If P/NDC in over 27 (Jan 1, 1982 to January 7, 2001 and then January 7, 2009 to January 7, 2016) of governance have not been able to wideout hunger how can they expect the NPP to do so in 12 years?
payin gyin---gyan.