COVID-19 EXPENDITURE; WE SPENT GH¢1,550 MILLION TO SUPPORT HOUSEHOLDS IN 2020/2021 – KEN OFORI-ATTA

By: Analimbey, A. Chris

The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has indicated that the government of Ghana has utilized GHC 1,550 million to provide support to households in the year 2020 as part of measures to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Ofori-Atta said this when he appeared in Parliament on Wednesday, 22^nd of June, 2022 to respond to queries in respect of Covid-19 expenditures.

According him, though the “total amount programmed for the initiatives under the Support to households in 2020 was GH¢1,718 million”, GH¢1,550 million was utilized to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on Ghanaians.

He indicated that with regards to distribution of the distribution of the packed hot food in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi, a total amount of GH¢12.1million was utilized. The figure, according to him, included the cost of transportation of packed food in some suburbs of Greater Kumasi by NADMO.

The expenditure for the provision of Hot Meals during the lockdown served about 2,744,723 persons for the period of the lockdown at a unit cost of GH¢4.32. Mr. Ofori-Atta has said.

Mr. Ofori-Atta also revealed that “a total amount of GH¢42.24 million was expended on distribution of Dry Food packages through Faith Based Organizations in Greater Accra and Kumasi. A total of about 470,000 persons received these food packages.”

The Minister further noted that “as part of the support to households, Government through the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and its agency, Ghana Water Company Limited provided free water which initially lasted for the period of April to September 2020. Following an executive directive, this was extended to December 2020 for lifeline consumers.

The distribution was also carried out by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency and other Small Holder Water Supply Organizations (NGOs).

According to the minister, an amount of GH¢556 million was budgeted in 2020 for this programme out of which GH¢456 million was utilised.

In respect of 2021, the ministers said an amount of GH¢200 million was allocated for the provision of free water and electricity for lifeline consumers, out of which GH¢143 million was utilised.

The minister opined that the government also made provision for free electricity to lifeline Consumers. It also absorbed 50% of all electricity bills for all residential and commercial customers. An amount of GH¢1,039 million was made available for the policy from April to September 2020.

Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta indicated that the government of Ghana had mobilized a total of GH¢18.19 billion to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country for the year 2020/2021. Out of this figure, a total of GH¢12 billion was utilized for the exercise.

 

analimbeychris@gmail.com