Ghana’s Parliament Approves GHC1.2bn for Coronavirus Alleviation

• The Ghana Parliament has approved GHC 1.2 billion for the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).
• This is in line with article 177(1) of the 1992 Ghana Constitution which allows the committee to grant such approval without the consent of the plenary.
• The fund will be used to provide food for the people and for the transportation of health workers.

The Finance Committee of the Ghana Parliament has approved the sum of GHc 1.2 billion for the government to access funds from the Contingency Fund to finance the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori Atta, delivered the policy document to the Ghana parliament on the Coronavirus Alleviation Program (CAP) on Wednesday, requesting approval for spending GHc 1.2 billion. This follows the Minority’s demands for the government to include specifics of funding for the money the minister has sought to tackle coronavirus and its economic effects.

As at 7th April 2020, a total of 313 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed with 6 deaths recorded. A total of 161 cases were reported from the routine surveillance, 37 from enhanced surveillance activities and those from travellers under mandatory quarantine in both Accra and Tamale are 115.

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The mandatory quarantine time for travelers arriving March 21-22, 2020 has ended. Overall, during the time a total of 1,030 travelers were quarantined. Of these, 79 (7.7 per cent) were positive while 951 were negative during the initial study. Twenty-six (26) of those initially negative were found to be positive at the exit screening, resulting in a total of 105, which is 10.2% of the quarantined passengers.

According to the Minister, GHc 280 million will go into food packages and hot meals and GHc 40 million will go to the National Buffer Stock Company, and GHc 241 million will go to the National Buffer Stock Company to pay for water and sanitation bills.

He further clarified that GHc 80 million will be spent on the compensation for health workers, and GHc 2 million will be used to cover transportation for health workers GHc 600 million will be disbursed as soft loans to companies.

Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah, Chairman of the Finance Committee, says his office is writing a letter allowing the Finance Minister to withhold the money for spending.

According to Dr. Assibey, Article 177(1) of the 1992 Constitution allows the committee to grant such approval without the approval of the plenary.