Finance Committee Probes GH₵500m Drought Funding Request
- Finance Committee questions GH₵500m drought funding request.
- Committee seeks clarification on previous advance and beneficiary breakdown.
- Detailed budget allocation for GH₵500m requested.
- Approval pending provision of requested data.
The Finance Committee of Parliament has raised several concerns regarding the Ministry of Finance’s request for GH₵500 million from the Contingency Fund.
The funds are intended to address the ongoing drought in Northern Ghana, but the committee has identified three key compliance issues that must be resolved before approval.
Isaac Adongo, Ranking Member of the committee and MP for Bolga Central, outlined these concerns in an interview with Selorm Adonoo on Eyewitness News.
Firstly, the committee has requested an update on the status of a previous advance of $200 million from the Stabilisation Fund to the Contingency Fund in 2020.
At the time, this advance amounted to $1.2 billion due to exchange rates, and the committee wants to know about its replenishment.
Secondly, Adongo highlighted the need for a detailed breakdown of beneficiaries at the regional, district, and community levels.
This includes identifying specific individuals who would benefit from the GH₵500 million support.
Thirdly, the committee is seeking a detailed budget showing the specific allocation of the GH₵500 million to address the drought.
Adongo emphasized that the committee has not yet decided on the request, and the decision will depend on the provision of the requested data.
The committee’s concerns must be addressed before approval can be considered, ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.