US100M Chest Announced By Prez Akufo-Addo Has Been Secured -Finance Minister

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has told Parliament that US$100million that President Akufo-Addo announced had been allocated towards the fight against the coronavirus pandemic has been secured.

Addressing Parliament today in an update that also asked for Ghc1billion for a program to alleviate the impact of the pandemic, a vintage Ken Ofori-Atta, took swipe at members of the Minority who had expressed doubts that the money was available saying the money is in the kitty.

“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,” the Finance Minister said.

According to him, the Finance Ministry has been closely in touch with the Ministry of Health and together the two Ministries have been executing a response plan since the outbreak of the disease in Ghana.

The plan, he said seeks to strengthen coordination of the overall preparedness activities;  strengthen capacity of regions, priority health facilities and points of entry to prevent, rapidly detect, investigate and control any COVID-19 outbreak in Ghana and strengthen national capacity for laboratory surveillance and diagnosis.

It will also build capacity for early diagnosis, case management, contact tracing and infection prevention and control; ensure minimum health logistics are in place in prioritized regions, health facilities and points of entry for preparedness and laboratory capacity sustained for timely and quality testing of COVID-19 samples; and increase public awareness on COVID-19 risk mitigation and response measures.

“The initial cost of programmes and activities under the COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan is about GHȼ572 million (US$100 million),” he reiterated.