Accra, June 22, GNA – Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the finance minister, says the total amount of COVID-19 funds programmed for the initiatives under the support to households in 2020 was GH¢1,718 million, out of which amount utilized was GH¢1,550 million.
He made the disclosure on Wednesday on the floor of Parliament, when he presented his statement to the House, dubbed “Statement to Parliament on the COVID-19 Expenditure 2020/2021”.
Mr Ofori-Atta said a total amount of GH¢12.1million was utilized for the distribution of the packed hot food in Accra, Tema, Kasoa and Greater Kumasi.
He noted that it included the cost of transportation of packed food in some suburbs of Greater Kumasi by National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
He said the expenditure for the provision of hot meals during the lockdown served about 2,744,723 persons for the period of the lockdown was at a unit cost of GH¢4.32.
He said a total amount of GH¢42.24 million was expended on distribution of dry food packages through faith-based organizations in Greater Accra and Kumasi; adding that a total of about 470,000 persons received the food packages.
“As part of the support to households, Government through the Ministry of Water and Sanitation and its agency, Ghana Water Company Limited provided free water, which initially lasted for the period April to September 2020.”
The Minister said following an executive directive, it was extended to December 2020 for lifeline consumers.
He said the distribution was also carried out by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency and other small holder water supply organizations (NGOs).
Mr Ofori-Atta said an amount of GH¢556 million was budgeted in 2020 for this programme out of which GH¢456 million was utilised.
He said in 2021, a total allocation of GH¢200 million was made for the provision of free water and electricity for lifeline consumers, out of which GH¢143 million was utilised.
“Government also made provision in the Budget for free electricity to lifeline consumers and absorbed 50 per cent of all electricity bills for all residential and commercial customers,” he stated.
The Minister said a total cost of GH¢1,039 million was utilised for the policy from April to September 2020.
GNA