The deputy Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the National Democratic Congress, Amos Blessing Amorse has accused the Akufo Addo government of taking advantage of the covid19 pandemic to buy votes ahead of the 2020 election.
According to him the government has turned everything being funded by State funds into a New Patriotic Party programme and creating the impression that it is the Party that is distributing it and not the State.
“Take a tour of the constituencies and see what is happening…very shameful. Items procured with State funds and proceeds from codvid19 fund are branded in NPP colors with pictures of their Parliamentary Candidates and MPs…that is what they are distributing to people in NPP branded vehicles. Worse of all it is their Constituency and regional executives together with their MPs and PCs that are distributing these items that ought to have been distributed by NADMO officials,” Mr Amorse fumed.
He added that “the President has consistently called on all of us to shelve our political persuasions and join the fight against this virus but this same President is looking on while his people politicize the whole thing. Do you expect that I join an NPP vehicle to go round to distribute items branded in NPP colors? I won’t do that…I’m a regional deputy youth so I’m in touch with all my youth organizers in all the Constituencies in Greater Accra…I’ve seen evidence of things procured with State funds branded in NPP colors being distributed. Go to Ashaiman, Shai Osudoku, Weija Gbawe, Domeabra Obom and the other constituencies in Accra, all tht they are doing is politics and we’ll not sit down and look on.”
Last month, Parliament passed the COVID-19 National Trust Fund Bill, 2020. The House earlier determined to pass the Bill under a certificate of urgency after it was laid in the House by the Attorney General.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has disclosed that the COVID-19 National Trust Fund has so far received a total sum of GH¢8.75 million in the form of donations from the general public.
While speaking in a televised address on Sunday, April 5, 2020, the President noted that the stated amount also includes US$600,000.
He commended Ghanaians and institutions for heeding to the clarion call to support the Fund meant to support the vulnerable and those who will be hard hit by measures adopted to combat the Coronavirus disease in Ghana.
“I am very grateful to the individuals and institutions, who have responded to my appeal for donations to be made into the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, which has been established to complement Government’s fight against the virus, and to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. A total amount of some eight million, seven hundred and fifty thousand cedis (GH¢8.75 million), which includes six hundred thousand United States dollars (US$600,000), has been received so far for this purpose. I am happy that so many appointees of my government have also followed my example by donating their salaries to the Fund,” he said.
The trust is intended to receive donations from the public for disbursement and also make provisions for how the trust should be managed.