President Akufo-Addo has reassured Ghanaians that the COVID-19 pandemic was not used as a cover for corrupt practices.
Addressing the nation on Sunday (28 May), Akufo-Addo said “Let me make it clear that COVID expenditures especially compliance have been subjected, at my instigation, to audit by the auditor general and are going through parliamentary processes.”
Some Members of Parliament from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have questioned how COVID funds have been expended by the government.
They have accused the government of not being able to account for expenditures with regard to COVID-19 funds.
But President Akufo-Addo said: “We all deserve to be reassured that the crisis was not used as a cover for corrupt practices.”
End of an era
The president also declared an end to the mandate of the COVID-19 Trust Fund and urged Ghanaians to support the government by continually paying the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy.
He said: “The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy that was introduced to help fill some of the expenditure holes might not be the most popular tax but I entreat all of you to bear with us.”
“The COVID Trust Fund has performed an invaluable service and with these developments has reached the end of its mandate,” the president added.
COVID is over
President Akufo-Addo declared the COVID-19 pandemic over in Ghana.
He said all the outstanding COVID-induced restrictions at the country’s airports and all entry points have been lifted.
President Akufo-Addo said: “We are back to the pre-COVID situation as far as health entry requirements are concerned.”
