In a shocking revelation, the Auditor General’s report has revealed that senior management and supporting staff of the Ministry of Information paid themselves a total amount of GHC 151,000 as COVID-19 risk allowance without any form of approval.
The report highlighted the lack of transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Information with regards to the management of COVID-19 funds.
The report also revealed that the Ministry did not follow the proper procedures for the payment of allowances to staff members, leading to the unauthorized payment of the COVID-19 risk allowance to senior management and supporting staff. Payments were done without the approval of the Chief of Staff, according to the Auditor General report.
The revelation has sparked widespread public concern and calls for the Ministry to provide more detailed information about how the funds were used. Many have also called for an investigation into the matter to ensure that the funds were used appropriately.
This disbursement forms part of unaccounted and mismanaged monies set aside as COVID Funds in the country’s attempt to fight and mitigate the effects of the pandemic on individual lives and productivity in the country.
The Funds were primarily procured by government to finance its welfare policies such as free food, water and electricity during the lockdown period in Ghana, among others.
