If Mahama is tired, he can step aside — Sammi Awuku on flood crisis

The Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, called on President John Dramani Mahama to resign if he cannot address the country's perennial floods.

His comments follow Monday's heavy rains, which caused severe flooding in parts of Accra and other communities, claiming lives, destroying property and disrupting economic activities.

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that the floods displaced more than 38,000 people, claimed 12 lives and left seven others missing across several parts of the country.

After an aerial assessment of the affected areas, President Mahama attributed the flooding partly to climate change, poor sanitation and illegal developments on waterways.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 30, Awuku argued that while the causes of flooding are well known, the government's priority should be implementing practical measures to prevent the recurring disasters and protect lives and property.

"We didn't elect leaders to tell us our problems; we elected leaders to fix our problems. If President Mahama is tired, he can leave the position for somebody who is also ready to lead us to that promised land," he said.

The Akuapem North MP noted that the New Patriotic Party administration initiated several flood mitigation projects, including drainage works at Odaw, South Kaneshie and other flood-prone areas, and urged the current government to build on those interventions instead of engaging in political blame.

He further questioned the government's flood response structure, expressing concern over the composition of the anti-flood task force and accusing the administration of relying on public relations instead of decisive leadership during a national emergency.

Awuku said many victims had lost their livelihoods and investments due to the floods, stressing that affected families needed urgent action rather than political messaging.

The lawmaker stressed that the country requires strong leadership to tackle the perennial flooding challenge and ensure that effective long-term measures are implemented to prevent future disasters.