Alban Bagbin summons Ken Ofori-Atta to come and explain Covid-19 money
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been summoned by Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin to appear before the house to explain in detail how all funds received in the name of Covid-19 were used.
This instruction followed the shooting down of a 75 million Euros loan agreement between the Government of Ghana and the European Investment Bank, EIB for the Covid-19 Health Response Ghana Project.
Members of the Minority caucus led by the ranking member for the finance committee, Cassiel Ato Forson had questioned the failure of the finance minister to properly account for funds received in the name of the pandemic so far.
Legislator for Ho West, Emmanuel Bedzra threatened to mobilize the NDC MPs to vote against the loan since the President himself has through relaxation of the Covid restrictions given indication the worst of the pandemic is over.
But Majority Chief Whip Frank Annor-Dompreh sensing the mood in the house prayed the speaker to stand down the agreement.
Leading the Speaker to order the finance minister to account for all the Covid funds before parliament or forget any approval for a credit facility in the name of fighting the pandemic.
“I direct that the Minister of Finance appears before this House to account for all the monies that were approved for the utilization of the Covid pandemic. It’s only then and only after that this motion will have an expression in this House to be approved or otherwise,” the Speaker directed.
