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Day of accountability will come - Okoe Boye reminds COVID-19 funds supervisors

The Deputy Minister of Health designate, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye has called on all supervisors handling funds on COVID-19 in the country to be circumspect in their dealings.
Dr Okoe Boye
Dr Okoe Boye

Dr. Boye, who is the Member of Parliament for Ledzokuku said there will be accountability for anyone who handled funds meant to alleviate sufferings of Ghanaians during the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye in response to a question posed by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, during his vetting Wednesday said, “it is sufficient enough to remind those who will supervise the disbursement that the day of accountability will come so that they take that caution or reminder on board.”

Mr Ablakwa had asked if Dr Okoe-Boye will support the setting up of a bi-partisan committee to oversee the expenditure of Covid-19 funds in order to avoid scandals that have been associated with Ebola in other African countries.

He cited a case in Democratic Republic of Congo where a former Health Minister and his financial advisor were jailed for five years, for embezzling more than $400,000 from the country’s Ebola response funds.

While Dr Okoe-Boye supports the suggestion, he believes the setting up of a committee even as the battle to handle the pandemic in still in force, will not be worthwhile.

“Trying to form a committee while the war is on, would be like a coach or a technical person trying to access players while the match is on.

Maybe from the bench, you can remind the players that we will come to the room and discuss your strategies so position yourself well.”

After the pandemic has been controlled, however, that can be done, he stated.

“Anything to make sure that there’s transparency, I wouldn’t rigidly fight it but the timing.

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