NDC MP Chases Akufo-Addo

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency in the Upper East Region is holding President Nana Akufo-Addo to account, over his deafening silence on the latest Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 expenditure.

According to Dr. Clement Apaak, given the nature and magnitude of what the Special Audit has uncovered, and the public anger, as well as the revulsion the report has generated, the President’s loud silence is most revealing – “that he has no interest in fighting corruption.”

In a statement copied The Anchor, the lawmaker said, “Unlike the President of Malawi, Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, by his refusal to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report indirectly confirms the widely held belief that he has no interest in fighting corruption. This is the conclusion of known Anti-corruption crusaders in Ghana.”

His comment comes after the Auditor-General earlier last week released a report on the Covid-19 expenditure.

The report revealed some infractions in the government’s expenditure for Covid-19 from March 2020 to June 2022.

Some of the infractions that were uncovered include paying a total of US$607,419.02 out of US$4,049,460.12 for the purchase of 26 ambulances that were never delivered, paying unapproved GH₵151,500 by the Information Ministry to its own staff as Covid insurance, and paying for $80million worth of vaccines by the government that was never delivered, among others.

Below is Published, The Full Statement from the MP:

COVID-19 EXPENDITURE AUDIT REPORT AND AKUFO-ADDO’S POSTURE

In some African nations, like Malawi (see attached video), the President addressed his nation on the back of an audit report on COVID-19 expenditure. The President of Ghana, who won an election in 2016, largely on a promise to fight corruption, seems lethargic to acknowledge an audit report on COVID-19 expenditure, even in passing. Not even a tweet or facebook post.

The President of Malawi addressed the people of Malawi in relation to exposed corruption, malfeasance, and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds. He passionately told his nation what consequences and sanctions awaited those responsible, including some of his own ministers and other appointees.

In Ghana it is the opposite. The President doesn’t seem interested in the content of the COVID-19 expenditure Auditor-General’s Report, which has equally exposed acts of corruption, malfeasance, and misappropriation of COVID-19 funds in Ghana

Trying to excuse the nonchalant posture of the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo, with regards to this scandalous Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 expenditure, is untenable. Claims made by NPP apologists, that Akufo-Addo is only being cautious because infractions captured in the Auditor-General’s report have usually been resolved at sittings of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, is fallacious.

Yes, lots of funds have been retrieved as a result of disallows by the Auditor General and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee at its sittings. The Public Accounts Committees of the 7th and 8th Parliaments have made several recommendations for the prosecution of persons whose conducts have offended the procurement laws of Ghana, or have led to the loss of public funds. And it’s important to state, that when the Public Accounts Committee recommends prosecution, the Attorney General is expected to act.

Even so, given the nature and magnitude of what the Special Audit has uncovered, and the public anger and revulsion it has created, the President’s loud silence is most revealing, not shocking.

Unlike the President of Malawi, Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, by his refusal to comment on the Auditor-General’s Report indirectly confirms the widely held belief that he has no interest in fighting corruption. This is the conclusion of known Anti-corruption crusaders in Ghana.

The legitimate expectation of the people of Ghana is, that those who have embezzled, dissipated, and misappropriated COVID-19 funds be held accountable – nothing more nothing less.

In Solidarity,

Dr. Clement Apaak, M.P, Builsa South

January 29th, 2023

Source: Anchorghana