The Board of Trustees and Management of the Covid-19 National Trust Fund have dismissed allegations that they have misappropriated funds donated to the institution to fight the spread of the pandemic.

American-based social commentator, Kelvin Taylor is said to have claimed that the Trust Fund spent more than ¢250 million to procure hand sanitisers.

He is reported to have added that the Ghana Audit Service has not audited the accounts of the Fund.

But in a press release dated December 23, 2021, the Administrator of the Fund, Dr William Asare, stated that as of December 21, the Trust Fund had received a cumulative cash contribution of ¢59,828,480.36, an amount lower than what Kelvin Taylor quoted.

“So far, the Trust Fund has disbursed an amount of ¢49,763,135.32 towards the funding of various projects, as well as the provision of PPEs and other medical items to hospitals, health centres, CHPS Compounds, medical facilities, Covid-19 Care Management Centres, Covid-19 Isolation Centres and a few research activities,” the release said.

Dr Asare indicated that accounts of the Fund were audited by the Ghana Audit Service between May 2021 and August 2021 at the request of the Board of Trustees, although the Audit Service is yet to publicise its final observations.

“It is therefore not only erroneous, but also malicious for anyone to claim that the books of the Trust Fund have not been subjected to an audit, or that the Chairperson and the Trustees have misused or misapplied any funds donated to the Institution.”

“Reference to foreign loans being obtained for the use of the Trust Fund also stems from the height of ignorance of the purpose and source of funding of the COVID-19 Trust Fund,” Dr Asare added.

According to him, the Fund does not receive any funds from the government as has been chronicled by some persons.

He said they remain open to public scrutiny, constructive criticisms and suggestions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the Fund’s operations.

“However, any criticism which is based on propaganda, borne out of ill-will, malice, deliberate misinformation or ignorance and meant to create mischief or tarnish the hard-earned reputation of the Chairperson and the Board members of the Trust Fund is not only irresponsible but also detestable.”

The Covid-19 National Trust Fund was set up by Act 1013 (2020) by Parliament to compliment the efforts of the government to combat the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds are to be applied essentially to support persons engaged in the pandemic's combat and support needy and vulnerable persons infected with or affected by the coronavirus pandemic.