No discrepancies found in K23m virus fund: Official

By LULU MARK
AN independent audit into the K23 million allocated as the initial funding for the Covid-19 State of Emergency in March has found no discrepancies on how it was spent, an official says.
The audit was carried following allegations that the K23 million given to the Health Department was used in the hiring of vehicles and the engaging of an overseas firm to procure personal protection equipment.
The audit was carried out by the local firm Pape Accountants and Business Advisers between March 27 and June 12.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer said the firm which had a background in forensic accounting was recommended by aid donors. It did the audit on a pro-bono basis.
The Government approved the independent audit to establish whether there had been any misuse of the funds.
The report was given to Kramer by the Andy Pape, the principal of the firm.
Kramer said the allegations were not “credible or substantiated by any evidence”.
He said of the K23m, K21m had already been spent on Covid-19 response-related work.
National Pandemic Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning said whatever funds released by the Government or donors for the Covid-19 response were used in compliance with laws.