GH¢350m flood package should be shared fairly across affected regions — Minority

The Minority in Parliament has called for the equitable distribution of the government's flood relief package across all affected regions, arguing that the intervention should not be concentrated in Accra alone.

The call follows President John Dramani Mahama's directive for the release of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund to support flood relief and mitigation efforts after devastating floods affected parts of Accra and other communities in southern Ghana.

According to the Presidency, GH¢150 million has been allocated for immediate relief operations, while the remaining GH¢150 million will finance flood mitigation measures.

Addressing the media in Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, Minority Leader Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged the government to ensure that all flood-hit regions benefit from the intervention.

"Flooding in recent weeks has also affected communities in the Western, Central, Eastern, Volta and Ashanti regions, and the Minority insists that the GH¢350 million package be applied equitably across all affected regions, not concentrated solely on the national capital because it draws the most media attention," he said.

He said Parliament must receive regular updates on how the funds are utilised and insisted that the allocations for direct relief and mitigation works should be clearly distinguished.

"The Minority demands detailed, itemised reporting to this House on how the full GH¢300 million will be disbursed and spent, broken down by recipient communities, projects and contractors where applicable, together with documentary evidence of full compliance with the Public Financial Management Act and all other applicable transparency and procurement requirements," said the lawmaker.

The Presidency, in its statement announcing the intervention, said the funds were intended to provide urgent support for affected communities and to reduce the impact of future flooding.

President Mahama has also directed the deployment of personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service to assist the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security agencies in ongoing rescue and relief operations across flood-affected areas.