The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to brief Parliament today, June 16 on government’s Covid-19 expenditure since the outbreak of the disease in 2020.

This was announced by the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin when he presented the Business Statement for this week.

It comes after the Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin directed the Minister to appear before the House and provide detailed breakdown of all monies approved for spending during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Speaker’s directive came after the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kweku Kwarteng moved the motion for the approval of €75 million for the Covid-19 health response project.

However, the Minority in Parliament resisted the motion.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/covid-19-expenditure-if-you-have-nothing-to-hide-you-have-nothing-to-fear-mintah-akandoh-to-ofori-atta/

The Speaker, after listening to the MPs, directed that the Finance Minister appears to give account.

Throughout the current session of Parliament, the Minority Caucus has been trying to haul Mr Ofori-Atta before the House to answer questions on Covid-19 funds and a host of other questions.

In February, the Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak and Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson filed a motion to Speaker Bagbin, requesting for a bi-partisan probe into the GH¢8.1 billion expenditure by the government.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/mahama-calls-for-probe-into-use-of-covid-19-funds/

That motion was admitted.

However, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu dismissed the motion subsequently.

“So, President Akufo-Addo is presiding over a gargantuan fraud in the spending and disbursement of Covid expenses. We are calling on the President and reminding him that the 1992 Constitution is premised on probity and accountability and that if he has any respect for the values of integrity, let him probe into Covid-19 expenditure,” Haruna Idrrisu stressed.

https://www.myjoyonline.com/alleged-misapplication-of-covid-19-funds-minority-to-file-motion-for-probe/

Ahead of Ken Ofori-Atta’s briefing, the NDC MPs have vowed to extract accountability from him.