Ministry of Information defends GH¢151k COVID-19 risk allowance amid Auditor-General’s scrutiny

The Ministry of Information has defended the payment of over GH¢150,000 to its staff who worked during the COVID-19 lockdown, following concerns raised by the Auditor-General.

In a report covering transactions from March 2020 to June 2022, the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, questioned the basis for the GH¢151,500 remuneration and directed the Ministry to refund the amount, stating that it was paid without approval.

The report highlighted, “During our review, we noted that senior management staff and other supporting staff of the Ministry of Information paid themselves a total amount of GH¢151,500.00 as COVID-19 risk allowance for coming to work during the lockdown.”

In response, Mawuli Segbefia, the Director of Finance and Monitoring at the Ministry of Information, explained that the payments were intended to motivate staff.

Mr Segbefia clarified that the allowances were part of a plan submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval. He emphasized the critical role the Ministry played during the lockdown, noting that while most officers of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) stayed home, the Information Ministry staff reported to work daily to develop and publish the COVID-19 response plan.

Mawuli Segbefia remarked, “you will recall that during that time when the country was locked up, most officers of MDAs were required to stay at home but the Ministry of Information was required to report to work every day as part of response to the COVID fight. So we needed to motivate those staff who came daily to the office to help develop the COVID-19 response plan for publication.”

The Ministry of Information’s justification underscores the necessity to support essential workers during the pandemic, despite the Auditor-General’s directive for a refund.