Ghani Orders Probe Into Alleged Corruption In COVID-19 Funds

President Ashraf Ghani warned officials that any corruption and negligence in the handling of COVID-19 response budget will be dealt with accordingly and ordered an investigation.
“The Presidential Palace inspector should assess all accusations and allegations of corruption in the Coronavirus response budget spending and inform the people about the details of the expenses,” presidential spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said.

The order was issued after parliamentarians alleged that millions of afghanis had been “embezzled.”
Member of the Lower House Shahpoor Hassanzoi said, “There is corruption in the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the fund has been divided between officials.”
Another member of parliament Nilofar Jalali Kofi accused the MoPH of collaborating with “economic mafia.”
The government has allocated $155.7 million for the COVID-19 response, of which the MoPH has reportedly spent $36.7 million.
The international community has pledged an additional $700 million towards the Coronavirus response in Afghanistan.