How the COVID-19 National Trust Fund spent GH¢32million
The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has disclosed that the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act (CNTF) has utilised an amount of GH¢32,820,564.97 out of a total of GH¢53,911,249.87 that it had mobilised as at June 30, 2020.
The Minister in the mid-year review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy on July 23 said the amount was mobilised from individuals, churches, corporate bodies, staff of organisations, non-Governmental organisations, groups, and associations.
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He said: "As at 30th June, 2020, the CNTF had mobilised GH¢53,911,249.87 from individuals, churches, corporate bodies, staff of organisations, non-Governmental organisations, groups, and associations, among others. Out of this, an amount of GH¢32,820,564.97 has been utilised as at 30th June, 2020.
Expenditure
Shedding light on how the funds were expended, Mr Ofori-Atta also stated that the the Fund transferred GH¢10,257,360.00 into the COVID-19 Private Sector Fund for acquisition of PPEs and other medical items to resource the country’s frontline workers.
He added that the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) was also supported with GH¢2,500,000.00 to enhance COVID-19-related public sensitisation.
To improve decision making, the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) was provided with an amount of GH¢ 297,920.00 to conduct studies on the impact of the pandemic in 80 districts across the country, the Minister said.
"Mr. Speaker, food items, vehicles, PPEs, and medical supplies were provided to 32 other key institutions. A significant quantity of the PPEs were distributed to the Ghana Health Service, the COVID-19 Care Management Team, and 5 health institutions to support the fight against the pandemic.
"The Fund also distributed food items to the aged, vulnerable, and needy persons through Help Age Ghana, and 5 care homes and shelters. In addition, 10 saloon cars and two 2 pick-up vehicles were provided to 4 Treatment/Isolation Centres, 6 Laboratories and COVID-19 Care Management Teams to enhance surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and management of cases. To address the peculiar needs of Pantang Hospital, PPEs and one ventilator were also provided".
About the CNTF
To leverage other resources to fight the pandemic, the Government passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Act (CNTF), 2020 (Act 1013) in April 2020 to establish the Fund, and put in place a 7-member Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo. The other members of the Board are Archbishop Justice Ofei Akrofi, Mr Jude Kofi Bucknor, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Mrs Elsie Addo-Awadzie, Dr Ernest Ofori-Sarpong and Dr Tanko. Mr Collins Asare is the Secretary to the Board.