Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is today, Wednesday, 22 June 2022 expected to appear in Parliament to deliver a statement on government's use of COVID-19 funds.

The Minister will also be expected to answer questions from some members of the house.

All parliamentary business concerning the finance ministry had been put on hold by Speaker Alban Bagbin over the minister’s failure to show up in parliament on Thursday, 16 June 2022 to brief the house on some issues within his ministry.

Mr Ofori-Atta was scheduled to answer 16 questions and deliver an important statement on the floor but put in a last-minute plea to be excused.

 “Until we go through the accountability process, we will not take that motion”, Mr Bagbin told the house on Thursday, adding: “Today, he has another request before us”.

“That will also be affected”, he noted.

“Until he comes to respond to the questions and to submit the statement giving an explanation as to how the money has been applied, we will not entertain any business from that ministry,” Mr Bagbin declared.

Defending Mr Ofori-Atta, Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said: “He pleaded that he should see them [the questions] first, read them and appreciate what the technical people have brought and if there are any other matters to be added on, he does so … so that he will be able to give a comprehensive response.”

“For anybody to jump to the conclusion that the minister is running away from responsibility, I shudder to think of how that is coming about”, the parliamentary affairs minister added.

Find below the questions Mr Ofori-Atta is to answer:

Mr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw (Wa East): To ask the Minister for Finance when the Ministry will issue financial clearance to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to clear the large debt owed partners and suppliers to ensure availability of subsidised fertilizer in this farming season.

Ms. Sheila Bartels (Ablekuma North): To ask the Minister for Finance about the current status of funding for the construction of Phase Two of the Tema Motorway, which has been highlighted as a major issue for commuters.

Mr. Sylvester Tetteh (Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro): To ask the Minister for Finance the interventions the Ministry is employing to clamp the sustained increments in fuel prices as witnessed in the recent pricing windows.

Mr. Edward Abambire Bawa (Bongo): To ask the Minister for Finance what the Ministry is doing with respect to imposed taxes and levies on petroleum products and the depreciation of the Cedi.to slow down the increases in prices of petroleum product prices at pumps.

Mr. Vincent Oppong Asamoah (Dormaa West): To ask the Minister for Finance whether the Ministry would consider sourcing additional funding for infrastructural development at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani just like it was done in respect of the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS) in Ho, the University of Environment and Sustainable Development at Somanya, and recently for the proposed university at Bunso.

Mr. George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan (Cape Coast South): To ask the Minister for Finance which companies were used as Local Transaction Advisors and Local Legal Advisors for the 2021 Eurobond, and how much were they paid in fees as individual companies.

Mr. George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan (Cape Coast South): To ask the Minister for Finance how much Government has realised (net proceeds) from the Eurobond issued in 2021, and how much it has spent on fees and related roadshow expenses.

Mr. Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim (Tamale Central): To ask the Minister for Finance how much revenue the State generated from the sale of power to neighbouring countries.

Ms. Theresa Lardi Awuni (Okaikwei North): To ask the Minister for Finance how much was raised in total from Government Bonds since 2017; who the transaction advisors and book runners were since 2017, and how was paid to each of the transaction advisors and book runners since 2017.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri): To ask the Minister for Finance how the 2022 budget will ensure that all the major issues of increased taxes, increased fuel prices and unmaintained roads which were raised during the course of 2021 will be tackled efficiently.

Dr. Stephen Amoah (Nhyiaeso): To ask the Minister for Finance the plans the Government has established through the Ministry of Finance to reduce the debt stock which stood at 76.1% in the first half of this year.

Mr. Kwadjo Asante (Suhum): To ask the Minister for Finance if the Government, through the Ministry’s work plan, intends to return to the International Monetary Fund for financial assistance.

Mr. Collins Adomako-Mensah (Afigya Kwabre North): To ask the Minister for Finance what assurance the Ministry can give in response to the widely held concern that Government has abandoned projects started by previous administrations.

Ms. Dakoa Newman (Okaikwei South): To ask the Minister for Finance the progress and impact of the Ghana CARES programme as well as the plans to raise a US$100 Billion fund through a Government-Private collaboration, all aimed at revitalizing the economy, post COVID-19.

Mr. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (Nsawam-Adoagyiri): To ask the Minister for Finance how much has been invested in fighting COVID-19 and what gains are attributable to the investments made so far in respect of economic recovery.

Mr. Paul Apreku Twum-Barimah (Dormaa East): To ask the Minister for Finance what measures the Ministry has in place to ensure that the creation of one (1) million jobs stated in the mid-year budget is achieved, in light of the current indication that the Government payroll is full.