COVID-19: Information Ministry justifies GHC150K spent on staff

Ghana's Ministry of Information has revealed that the GHC150,000 provided to selected Ministry officials during the COVID-19 shutdown was intended to stimulate them.

According to the Ministry, the risks that staff had to face required some encouragement. This followed concerns highlighted by the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, in his COVID-19 transactions report for the period March 2020 to June 2022, which questioned the rationale for the payment.

However, Mawuli Segbefia, Director of Finance and Monitoring at the Ministry of Information, stated that the money was intended to increase staff morale.

“Mr Chair, we were required to submit our implementation plan and budget to the Ministry of Health and the bank for approval, which we complied with. The plan contained all activities to be implemented plus all allowances due to officers who implemented them.

“So, yes, Mr Chairman the plan was submitted to the bank, and Ministry of Health and duly approved before implementation commenced. The allowances were part of the plan submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval,” the Director of Finance and Monitoring at the Ministry of Information stated.

 By Florence Kyei

Lead News Online