Manasseh Azure Slams GH¢780m COVID Fumigation Deal, Says Needless Spending Is Bigger Issue Than Audit Gap

Story By: Deborah Adorsu

Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni says the GH¢780 million COVID-19 fumigation controversy goes beyond whether the Auditor-General captured all the expenditure.

His comments come amid renewed debate over Ghana’s COVID-19 expenditure, after revelations that the 2022 Special Audit by the Audit Service reported only GH¢96.3 million as fumigation cost, while documents from the Ministries of Local Government, Education and Transport point to expenditure of at least GH¢780 million.

While Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor called the alleged omission “the greatest public finance scandal of the Fourth Republic” and pushed for arrests over a possible breach of Section 16 of the Audit Service Act, Manasseh believes attention should be redirected.