Auditing of pandemic expenditure needed for transparency and accountability

The delay in conducting a comprehensive audit on expenditures related to Ghana’s Covid-19 management is fueling a perception of embezzlement in the country, according to the Covid-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP) report by non-governmental organization, BudgIT Ghana.

“We need a forensic audit into the covid-19 expenses to ensure that the funds were not misappropriated as being alleged in the public domain. This will engender confidence in the government and boost credibility in the eyes of development partners,” Country Director of BudgIT, Ray Nkoom said during the launch of the report.

The report “Transparency and Accountability during COVID-19 Outbreak in Ghana” tracks government spending of funds drawn through loans and grants to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on lives and livelihoods.

Ghana has since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic received billions of dollars from development partners and institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, Bank of Ghana, among others which aided its management of the pandemic.

According to the report, much of the spending occurred through expedited processes due to the nature of the pandemic and as a result, the risks of corruption, mismanagement and waste were heightened.

While the country signed up to processes such as open contracting and beneficial ownership in accessing the funds, the report shows much has not been done to ensure transparency and accountability in the expenditure.

The report recognizes that the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta had appeared before parliament to give details of pandemic-related expenditure, but still requires forensic audit to ensure full disclosure.

“We found that commitments under the IMF’s Rapid Financial Loan Instrument to publish procurement plans, notices, and awards related to the emergency response were largely not complied with,” the report said.

Several contracts for the supply of food and medical products and services were awarded at the height of the pandemic, but details about a few could be found on the government’s electronic procurement platform created to facilitate public procurement processes and reduce human involvement which breeds corruption.

BudgIT and partner CSOs urge forensic audit of covid expenses

BudgIT Ghana together with partner anti-corruption civil society groups discussed ways to demand transparency and accountability in public financial management with focus on covid-19 related expenditure.

The CSOs called on the government to facilitate a forensic audit of all covid-19 related expenses to help promote transparency and accountability in the country.

The group also urged for open and transparent dialogue with CSOs in taking decisions related to the government’s response to the pandemic.  

“These principles all point to the need for strong institutions to hold leaders and their management of the COVID-19 response accountable,” Ray Nkoom said.

About CTAP

The Covid-19 Transparency and Accountability Project was run in seven African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Cameroon, Liberia).

CTAP discovered a common phenomenon across all the countries of study – a lack of transparency and accountability for covid-related expenditure.

While audit processes might be required to ascertain abuse of resources, the lack of publicly available procurement details and delays in conducting forensic audits have created impressions of corruption in the pandemic-related expenses.

Source: Kessbenonline.com