By Lamin Njie
The ministry of finance has released new information on the amount of money spent so far in the fightback against COVID-19.
The ministry in a statement Sunday said it has ‘released’ 160 million dalasis to the ministry of health. The sum was taken from the 500 million dalasis fund – as of 1 May.
A breakdown has seen the ministry of health spend 5.5 million dalasis on allowances alone. Transport expense and fuel purchase stood at 2.3 million dalasis and 600,000 dalasis respectively.
The government has also revealed it has spent over 14 million dalasis on hotels across the country where those in quarantine have been held. A staggering 12.8 million dalasis was spent on vehicles.
The publication of the new details of the coronavirus fund has however been met by criticism.
Madi Jobarteh, for example, said on Sunday “this financial report raises more questions than provides satisfactory answers”.
“We hope the NAMs will give it the necessary scrutiny to unravel the various line items so as to get the true picture and prevent duplication and misleading facts,” he added.
