The Minority in Parliament has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of presiding over what they describe as ‘gargantuan fraud in the expenditure and disbursement of COVID funds.’
The Minority argued the public disclosure by a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to the effect that COVID funds were shared to party executives has vindicated its claims.
Speaking at a press conference in Parliament, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said: “As much as we feel vindicated, we also feel equally scandalized by emerging reports by leading members of the NPP.”
“A leading Vice-Chair called Felicia Tetteh is publicly reported to have said that COVID monies were shared amongst constituency and regional party executives and for my purposes, I add national.”
These claims, the Minority leader said, demand investigation to determine how where the monies meant to fight the COVID pandemic were spent.
He said, “That in fact makes our call for an investigation into the highly anomalous COVID expenditure more decisive.”
“We now can understand why a motion by the Minority in Parliament to probe COVID by an institution that should be the most fundamental institution and guardian of the public purse, Parliament, will dismiss the motion even at birth by actors of the NPP political administration.”
The Minority leader stressed his side will re-file the motion for a probe into the COVID fund.
“We will renew our position and we will re-file a motion for a probe.
But to the Ghanaian public, these are those who parade that they care and they are protectors of the public purse.”
“We are calling on President Akufo-Addo and reminding him that the 1992 Constitution is premised on probity and accountability and that if he has any respect for the values of integrity let him probe the COVID-19 spending across the country.”