“Auditor-General Says Ghana Spent GHS 96m On COVID-19. Evidence Shows We Spent GHS780m” – Manasseh

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has revealed that the Auditor-General’s special audit into Ghana’s COVID-19 expenditure significantly underestimated the amount spent on fumigation during the pandemic.

According to the audit report, the country spent GH¢96.3 million on fumigation. However, Azure Awuni’s extensive investigation, which examined expenditure by the Ministries of Education, Local Government and Transport, found that the total amount was at least GH¢780 million, more than eight times the figure recorded in the audit.

The investigation indicated that approximately GH¢775 million, representing 99.4 per cent of the total expenditure, went to Zoomlion Ghana Limited. It also found that the Ministry of Education spent GH¢316.1 million across three phases of fumigation, but the audit report captured only the second phase.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government reportedly spent GH¢299 million on fumigation, but the entire amount was excluded from the audit report, despite the ministry having submitted the figures for auditing. The Ministry of Transport’s expenditure of GH¢159.9 million was also omitted.

The Ghana Audit Service confirmed that it had audited the expenditure but did not provide an explanation for the exclusion of the figures from the final report.

The findings have raised concerns about the credibility and independence of the special audit, particularly because it was requested by the same Finance Minister whose ministry was subject to the audit. They have also renewed scrutiny of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a company that had faced corruption allegations before the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the findings are substantiated, the discrepancy of more than GH¢680 million across the three ministries could point to significant shortcomings in the auditing process or possible efforts to conceal the actual cost of the country’s pandemic-related expenditure.

The revelations could further undermine public confidence in Ghana’s state auditing institutions and intensify calls for a review of the procedures used to commission and conduct special audits, particularly those involving public funds.

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