Accra, Ghana – In a recent address to the Parliament, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo defended his government’s use of the Covid-19 fund and dismissed allegations of criminality or reckless spending. The president detailed the numerous decisions and actions taken to save lives and livelihoods during the pandemic, emphasizing the importance of understanding the context in which those decisions were made.
President Akufo-Addo acknowledged that some of the measures taken, such as fumigating public spaces, might seem unnecessary in hindsight. However, at the time, these actions were based on the best scientific advice available from the country’s top physicians and scientists. “We took many decisions, we did many things which, according to the science, were the most reliable and trusted ways to save lives and livelihoods at the time, which may look strange and unnecessary today,” he stated.
The president also recalled the advice he received on the critical importance of fumigating public spaces, including offices, schools, hospitals, markets, churches, and mosques. While current science may suggest that such measures may not have been essential to curbing the spread of the virus, President Akufo-Addo firmly stated that his government’s actions cannot be labeled as criminal or reckless.
Furthermore, he assured the Parliament that nothing dishonorable was done with the Covid-19 fund. In a transparent move, it was the government itself that requested the auditing of the fund. “It was the Government that asked for the Covid funds to be audited, and I can assure this house that nothing dishonorable was done with the COVID funds,” the president declared.
