Covid-19: Parliament sits to consider Ken Ofori Atta’s request to access Contingency Fund

Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, on Wednesday April 08, recalled the House after he suspended sitting indefinitely on Saturday April 4, 2020. The recall was to enable the House to admit a policy statement by the minister of finance, Ken Ofori Atta, under Standing Order 70(2), on the fight against the corona virus pandemic.

Ken Ofori Atta, in a paper presented to the House requested the Finance Committee to approve a total GHS 1.2 billion for the Contingency Fund for the Coronavirus Alleviation Programme (CAP).

According to the Minister GHS 40 million will go to buffer stock company, GHS 200 million for water and sanitation, GHS 241 million for tax waiver for health personnel and GHS 80 million as allowance for health staff.

He added that GHS 280 million will go into food packages and hot meals for the poor and vulnerable in society, GHS 2 million for Ayalolo bus ride for health workers and GHS 600 million for soft loans to businesses.

Ken Ofori Atta said the programme is to mitigate the disruption to economic activities and the hardships imposed on the people of Ghana by the coronavirus pandemic and to rescue and revitalise the economy that have fallen prey to the pandemic.

He added that it will protect households and livelihoods, support micro, small and medium sized business, minimise job losses and provide additional funding for promotion of industries and also shore up and expand industrial output for both domestic consumption and exports.

The Rt. Hon. Speaker tasked the Finance Committee to work urgently on the request and submit its report to the plenary for the House to act with emergency to the benefit and welfare of the nation.

Earlier, the Speaker read to the House a communication from His Excellency the President Nana Akufo-Addo nominating the Member for Ledzokuku Hon. Bernard Okoe-Boye as the Deputy Minister designate for the Health Ministry.

Rt. Hon. Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye subsequently referred his nomination to the Appointments Committee for vetting and report.