COVID-19 response funds lost through corruption- Afrobarometer report

Even though Ghanaians applaud government in managing the response to COVID-19 pandemic, majority also believe some or lots of funds intended for the purpose of the pandemic response have been lost through corruption.

It said, majority of Ghanaians believe government performed well in managing the response to covid-19 pandemic, yet, the funds for the pandemic response has been misused through corruption.

In April 2022 survey conducted, a quarter of respondents reported that a member of their household had lost a job or primary source of income due to the pandemic.

“Few Ghanaians reported that their household received pandemic-relief assistance from the government, while many said the distribution was unfair”, the report noted.

These are the key findings

As of April 2022, about a quarter 26% of Ghanaians said a member of their household had lost a job, business, or primary source of income due to the pandemic, while 2% reported that someone in their household had become ill with COVID-19 or tested positive for the virus.

Overall, three-fourths representing 76% of Ghanaians said the government had performed “fairly well” or “very well” in managing the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Also, on specific aspects of the pandemic response, smaller majorities representing 61% expressed satisfaction with the government’s efforts to ensure that health facilities were adequately resourced and 50% minimised disruptions to children’s education. But only half, like 50% praised the government’s provision of relief to vulnerable households.

Furthermore, only two in 10 Ghanaians, like, 20% reported that their household had received COVID-19 relief assistance from the government, while 80% said they had not.

Only three in 10 citizens representing 31% said that COVID-19 relief was distributed “somewhat fairly” or “very fairly,” while two-thirds, also representing 67% said the distribution was unfair.

And more than seven in 10 representing 72% believe that “some” (28%) or “a lot” (44%) of the resources intended for the COVID-19 response were lost to corruption.

Source: Eric Nii Sackey