SoNA: Questions on debt levels legitimate but we’ve not been reckless in borrowing and spending – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said in his State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on Wednesday, March 8 that his government has not been reckless in borrowing.

Although he says questions that have been asked regarding the debt situation of the country are legitimate, he said there are projects to show for the borrowings that have been done over the period.

“We have not been reckless in borrowing and in spending,” he stressed.

On the issue of Covid funds utilization, the President said that the funds were not misused.

He said the funds were appropriately used for the purpose of tackling the pandemic.

Mr Akufo-Addo said “Covid funds were not missed. It is critical that we do not lose the confidence of the people that the crisis we were all in together was being abused. Nothing dishonourable was done with Civid funds.”

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He mentioned among other things that frontline health workers were given 50 percent tax relief for the period. Also, he said, electricity and water tariffs were subsidized for Ghanaians during the period.

This comes in the wake of a recent audit report on Covid spending issued by the Audoeo General.

The Auditor-General report stated that “During our review, we noted that senior management staff and other supporting staff of the Ministry of Information paid themselves a total amount of GH¢151,500.00 as COVID-19 risk allowance for coming to work during the lockdown.”

It further indicated that the Ministry of Health (MoH) entered a contract signed on 15 December 2021 for the supply of 26 Toyota Hiace Deluxe Ambulances valued at US$4,049,460.12 out of which US$607,419.02 was paid to vide PV No. IPF 22-007 of 2 September 2022 is to be delivered by 15 January 2022.

However, the report said, the ambulances remained undelivered as of 28 November 2022.

Source:3news.com