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Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has uncovered that the Ghanaian government spent approximately 775 million Ghana cedis on COVID-19 fumigation and disinfection exercises that experts and international health bodies deemed largely unnecessary. The findings, detailed in his latest investigative report titled "Auditing the Auditor-General," suggest that massive sums of public funds were channeled into operations that did little to curb the spread of the virus. Awuni's probe highlights a significant disconnect between government action and the scientific understanding of the pandemic, specifically regarding the transmission of the virus.
The breakdown of the expenditure reveals significant allocations across various government sectors, with the Ministry of Education reportedly spending 316.1 million cedis and the Ministry of Local Government accounting for 299 million cedis. During an interview with GBC News, Awuni emphasized that these expenditures directly contradicted World Health Organization (WHO) guidance. Because COVID-19 is primarily an airborne virus, the widespread spraying of public spaces was criticized as a scientific mismatch that failed to address the actual threat, effectively wasting resources on surface disinfection while the virus remained a respiratory risk.
Beyond the lack of scientific efficacy, the investigation raises serious concerns regarding governance, procurement competition, and fiscal responsibility. Awuni pointed to a lack of competitive bidding and insufficient oversight, which allowed these funds to be disbursed without the rigorous scrutiny typically required for such massive public outlays. He lamented the current state of Ghana’s healthcare facilities, arguing that the 775 million cedis could have been transformative if invested in permanent infrastructure, such as hospital equipment or new clinics. This report serves as a critical call for greater accountability in the management of emergency public funds during national crises.