Public Interest Accountability Committee (PIAC) has revealed that the Akufo-Addo-led administration has used a total of $75 million in petroleum revenue for the Agenda 111 project.

PIAC disclosed in its semi-annual report for the first half of 2022 on the management and use of petroleum revenue that the government disbursed US$49.4 million in 2021 through the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).

Further information provided by the committee showed that $25.6 million was paid out in the first half of 2022.

According to the Committee, GIIF had established a new ring-fenced subsidiary vehicle known as H-GIIF to execute the transaction and make all payments to the contractors.

“GIIF has indicated that it has been engaged by the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to help ensure administrative and project management efficiencies as well as payment integrity throughout the process, especially for the 101 standard 60/100-bed district hospitals,” the report noted.

Meanwhile, PIAC has stated that the government is yet to furnish its outfit with the “specific details of all disbursements.”

PIAC, in its report, recommended that the government direct subsequent disbursements of funds to the Ministry of Health to support the Agenda 111 Project as an expenditure under Priority Areas.

This, according to PIAC, will enable GIIF to focus on its core mandate.

“It will enable GIIF focus on its core mandate of investing funds, including its Annual Budget Funding Amount (ABFA) disbursements, in commercial infrastructural projects that would yield returns,” the report said.

What is Agenda 111

The Agenda 111 programme by the Akufo-Addo government is to ensure Ghanaians in every nook and cranny of the country have access to quality healthcare

services.

The facilities will include 4 state-of-the-art surgical theatres for maternity, obstetrics, and gynaecology, and a full complement of male, female, paediatric, and isolation wards, among others.

Source: The Independent Ghana