Ghana Politics
Agenda 111: Minority Takes On Finance Ministry
Minority in Parliament has described as bizarre, government’s explanation on how GH¢600 million was set aside for Agenda 111.
This comes after the Ministry of Finance denied claims by the Minority in Parliament that the government had already spent GH¢636 million on Agenda 111 even before it was launched on Tuesday, August 17, 2021.
In a press release issued by the Public Relations Unit, the Ministry admitted that in 2020, an amount of GH¢600 million was released into the Health Infrastructure Account at Bank of Ghana (BoG) to support the implementation of the District and Regional Hospitals Projects.
The Finance Ministry said contrary to the claims “the said amount had been released into the project account at the BOG but not utilised yet. Project commencement has just begun. So far, only GH¢36million has been released as part of pre-construction mobilisation,” the statement, dated August, 19, explained.
However, the Parliamentarians of the NDC, led by Ranking Member on Parliament’s Health Committee, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the explanations on the whereabouts of the money lead to a conclusion that the government is hiding the truth about the GH₵600 million expenditure.
“We find the explanations on the GH₵600million expenditure rather bizarre, to say the least. The statement is alarming in that, it raises even more concerns about the chain of custody of the GH₵600 million allocated for AGENDA 111 projects. From all the contradictions, it may be that the GH₵600 million is missing,” part of the statement read.
Mr Akandoh raised five questions about the expenditure including when the GHC600 million was allocated to Agenda 111, which agency of government is implementing Agenda 111? And what has been the chain of custody of the funds since they left the Consolidated Accounts at the BoG?
To ascertain the accuracy of the Finance Ministry’s statement, he called on the Auditor General to constitute an audit team, involving the services of a reputable international Audit Firm, to audit the processes leading to the supposed transfer and the expenditure of the GH₵600 million.
“We also wish to serve notice that, if the Auditor General fails to Act within two weeks, we will have no option than to start the processes of collecting enough signatures from Members of Parliament to trigger a recall of Parliament so that a committee of Parliament can investigate the Missing GH₵600 million from the consolidated fund.”
Below is the full statement:
20/08/2021
For Immediate Release:
MINORITY STATEMENT ON THE MISSING GH₵600 MILLION FROM THE CONSOLIDATED FUND SINCE
2020.
The Minority in Parliament has read with utmost shock and alarm a press statement issued by the
Ministry of Finance in response to its recent call for accountability for an amount of GH₵600million
released or utilized in 2020 for the management of AGENDA 111 projects.
Although the statement in itself did not address the entirety of concerns raised in our press statement
regarding the sufficiency of allocations, the appropriacy of the implementing agency (Office of the
President) and the propriety of procurement methods leading to the award of contracts; we find the
explanations on the GH₵600million expenditure rather bizarre to say the least.
The statement is alarming in that it raises even more concerns about the chain of custody of the GH₵600
million allocated for AGENDA 111 projects. We therefore put forward a few questions:
1. Did government release GH₵600 million for the Agenda 111 in 2020 as per the Ministry of
Finance’s statement and when did this happen? Why was this not captured in the 2021 Budget?
2. Which agency of government is implementing Agenda 111 and is that agency different from the
agency holding custody of funds for the same project? Why?
3. Are funds purported to be lodged at the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund meant for
investment management or they are lodged there to be made available to the implementing agency on
demand?
4. Assuming that funds have been released for Agenda 111 projects, what has been the chain of
custody of the funds since they left the Consolidated Accounts at the BoG?
5. Can government, without releasing funds from the Bank of Ghana to the implementing agency
admit to having released same and present same to parliament and the people of Ghana?
Government’s communication and explanations leads to a rather unfortunate conclusion that
government is hiding the truth about the GH₵600 million expenditure and from all the contradictions, it
may be that the GH₵600 million is Missing.
In view of the above, we call on the Auditor General to immediately constitute an Audit team involving
the services of a reputable international Audit Firm such as Price Waterhouse coopers (PWC), to
immediately Audit the processes leading to the supposed transfer and the expenditure of the 600
million between the Ministry of finance, the Controller and Accountant General’s Department, the Bank
of Ghana, the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Chief of Staff to ascertain the veracity of the
claims of the Ministry of Finance.
We also wish to serve notice that, if the Auditor General fails to Act within 2 weeks, we will have no
option than to start the processes of collecting enough signatures from Members of Parliament to
trigger a recall of Parliament so that a committee of Parliament can investigate the Missing GH₵ 600
million from the consolidated fund.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh (MP)
MP for Juaboso & Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health
Source: Gharticles.com/Adomonline.com
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The ruling government New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said John Mahama’s promise to Ghanaian to scrap the E-levy if NDC win power in 2024 is a just a political talk.
According to NPP, the e-levy which started on Sunday, May 1 cannot be abolished by the NDC party.
“Just like the one-time premium and the repeal of talk tax that John Mahama and his NDC promised, but failed to implement when they were in power, this promise is just a political talk.”
“In any event, can John Mahama explain the difference between his 17.5% tax on financial transactions and his manifesto pledge to impose a uniform tax on all electronic transactions? Are these measures E-Levy in disguise and does he stand by them?” Communications Director of the NPP Yaw Buaben Asamoa wondered at a press conference in Accra Wednesday.
He stressed: “If we reflect deeply, we will accept, as the records show, that significant change to our political institutions and conduct, economic structure and management and positive social impact, has mostly happened under the NPP’s watch.
“Many very significant national reverses occurred under the six years of John Mahama’s Presidency. He has since been rejected twice in elections. It’s possible his recent address is motivated by self-preservation towards his continued leadership of the NDC into 2024, given that both insiders and external observers are writing him off”.
He added: “Under John Mahamas’ leadership, Ghana will slip backwards into chaotic incompetence. Just like his autobiography tells all, he cannot take decisions. As he says in his book, he will ride this country like a bicycle, out of control and dangerously downhill, merely hopeful of survival.
“The 2024 presidential election is expected to be about two choices: whether we choose to build on the significant gains so far made under President Akufo-Addo with a new presidential candidate from the NPP who comes with his or her own fresh ideas as well or to choose the candidate the NDC are threatening to bring back, John Dramani Mahama.”
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Source: GhArticles.com
The Supreme Court has thrown out the injunction application filed against the e-levy.
The apex court also directed the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to keep all records of deductions following the implementation of the electronic transaction levy.
In a unanimous ruling, Presiding Judge Nene Amegatcher reading the judgment noted that the nature of the relief sought by the minority is null and void.
Three Members of Parliament; Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu; Mahama Ayariga(Bawku Central) and Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa(North Tongu) are seeking the Supreme Court to restrain the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from implementing the E-Levy until the final determination of an earlier substantive suit challenging the constitutionality of the bill by Parliament.
Lead counsel for minority, Godwin Edudzi Tamaklo argued that greater parties will suffer, adding he 5u4 e-levy did not seek the interest of the public.
Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame opposed the injunction by the three minority members.
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Source: GhArticles.com
President Akufo-Addo has reiterated the commitment of government to ensure transparency and judicious use of revenue mobilized through the implementation of the e-levy Act to engender confidence among tax payers.
According to the President “government agenda to introduce the electronic levy bill, is now electronic transfer levy Act 2022 “Act 1075″ is a strategic decision to boost our revenue mobilization drive in order to grow our economy by ourselves to improve social, economic and infrastructural development in the republic of Ghana. The controversies which emanated from the inception of the electronic levy bill was a healthy one for our democracy as a nation”.
President Akufo-Addo therefore assured that “the government is committed to ensure the Judicious administration and implementation and the same time reporting of all revenues collected under the newly introduced electronic levy Act to impose a confidence in the government”.
This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the President by the Eastern Regional Minister Seth Kwame Acheampong during the 60th anniversary celebration of Rev. Friederich Monninger Memorial Presbyterian Church in Akosombo under the theme “Jesus Christ the light of the world” ,
He assured the congregants that, “government remains resolute and alive to to serve all well-meaning Ghanaians despite the global economic challenges. we are focused to sustain and grow the economy to make it an enviable one hence the need to continue to invest in the future the benefit for the generations unborn”
President Akufo-Addo said the Free Senior High , Vocational and Technical Education policy are the special purpose vehicles to churn out the needed human capital for accelerated development.
“I am very optimistic the legacy to ensure every school going child of this country attains a minimum of secondary education has overly been achieved the data is available to show. The free senior high school and the free technical vocational and education training are the best vehicles we have devised to take us to the realization of our goal of an educated and skilled work force” he explained.
He added that “considering our current dispensation of technological advancement , every school going child will continue to be given the requisite education to be equip to run a modern and digitalize economy , and also the pursue to achieve Ghana beyond aid is very promising especially when government is poised to become self reliant to win itself from over reliance of foreign taste”.
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