Administrators of government’s COVID-19 Trust Fund has been charged to keep receipts of expenditure because a day of reckoning will come.
Former President John Dramani Mahama made the comment while responding to a question in his maiden digital conversation on Thursday, April 23, 2020 in Accra.
“I don’t think I need to become President before we demand accountability. All those spending the COVID-19 money should be keeping the receipts because the day of accountability is fast approaching,” he said.
The NDC flagbearer also took aim at the President’s decision to open up the lockdown areas of the country despite rising cases of Covid-19 in Ghana saying he hopes the decision was solely based on science and not on any “political or parochial interest”.
Many corporate organisations and some parastatals have contributed to the Covid-19 fund since it was inaugurated.
On April 5, President Akufo-Addo disclosed that the COVID-19 National Trust Fund had received a total sum of GH¢8.75 million in the form of donations from the general public.
While speaking in a televised address on Sunday, April 5, 2020, the President noted that the stated amount also includes US$600,000.
“I am very grateful to the individuals and institutions, who have responded to my appeal for donations to be made into the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, which has been established to complement Government’s fight against the virus, and to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. A total amount of some eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GH¢8.75 million), which includes six hundred thousand United States dollars (US$600,000), has been received so far for this purpose. I am happy that so many appointees of my government have also followed my example by donating their salaries to the Fund,” he said.
The Fund receives donations for disbursement to individuals who have been negatively impacted by the disease and also make provisions for how the Fund should be managed.
Parliament approved the report of the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee which recommended the passing of the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Bill, 2020 under a Certificate of Urgency.
The Bill was laid before Parliament on the night of Wednesday, April 01, 2020, by the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo.
The National Trust Fund for COVID -19 is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo and other members of the Board of trustees of the Fund are Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, and Dr. Tanko Collins Asare will act as Secretary to the Board.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com