GH¢12bn Out Of GH¢18.19bn Was Utilized For Covid-19 Fight – Ofori-Atta Reveals

To lessen the country’s exposure to the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, the government mobilized a total of GH18.19 billion.

Out of the total revenue earned over the relevant time, the government ultimately spent GH12 billion.

In his address to Parliament on the government’s Covid-19 response expenses on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta made this disclosure.

“Mr. Speaker, to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on businesses and households, ensure that economic activities recover, and minimize job losses, the government mobilized GH¢18.19 billion out of the programmed GH¢19.3 billion in 2020 from various funding sources,” the Minister said.

“Mr. Speaker, for the years 2020 and 2021, the programmed expenditure amounted to GH¢15,763.48 million for the COVID-19-related expenditures out of which the actual utilization was GH¢12,036.41 million,” he added.

The government set aside Gh18.19 billion, or Gh1,203,715,085.77, to pay for the Coronavirus.

The Support to Households Programme distributed GH1.5 billion, the Health Response Supplies Equipment and Relief for Health Workers Program received GH1 billion, and the Construction of Agenda 111 Health Facilities Program received GH600 million.

During the Covid-19 outbreak, the government also set aside GH 200 million for the provision of free water and power to lifeline subscribers, but GH 143 million was ultimately spent.

He clarified that “all electricity bills for all residential and commercial customers” were paid in full by the government in 50% of the cases.