Minority NPP summons Health Minister for briefing on post-flood disease risks

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin

The Minority in Parliament is demanding an urgent briefing from the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on measures being implemented to prevent disease outbreaks following Monday's devastating floods that affected more than 38,000 people and claimed 12 lives.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said Parliament must be updated on the government's public health response, warning that the flooding has created conditions that could lead to outbreaks of communicable diseases.

"Overflowing sanitation facilities create conditions for the rapid spread of communicable diseases," he said.

"The Minority is therefore pressing for an urgent briefing by the Minister of Health on the steps being taken to monitor affected communities for early signs of disease outbreak, what emergency supplies have been supplied to flood hit areas, and what surveillance is in place should an outbreak occur."

Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Health Minister should also outline government's preparedness to respond swiftly to any public health emergency that may arise in communities affected by the floods.

Beyond the health concerns, the Minority accused the government of contributing to the country's environmental challenges through policies it claims have encouraged illegal mining.

According to Mr Afenyo-Markin, the establishment of GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana's Gold for Reserves programme has strengthened illegal mining activities, leading to environmental degradation that has worsened flooding.

"Illegal mining destroys the very watersheds, wetlands and river systems that would otherwise channel rainfall away from our cities and farmlands," he stated.

"A government that subsidises these natural defences with one hand cannot credibly claim with the other hand that this year's flooding was an act of nature."

He further argued that the government's handling of illegal mining contradicts its campaign promise to address the menace.

"The Minority holds the government accountable for the galamsey policy that is contrary to its own campaign promise and is contributing to the disaster it is now claiming to be responding to," he said.

The Minority's call comes as emergency agencies continue relief, recovery and assessment operations in flood affected communities, amid growing concerns over the humanitarian and public health consequences of one of Accra's worst flooding disasters in recent years.