The Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre South, Hon. Damata Ama Appianimaa Salam, has urged the government to ensure that the GH¢350 million allocated for flood relief is used solely to address the immediate needs of victims affected by the recent floods in Accra.
According to the MP, although she believes the decision to withdraw the funds from the Contingency Fund to finance relief and mitigation efforts was unlawful, the allocation should nonetheless be managed prudently and used transparently to benefit the affected residents.
Hon. Damata said the victims deserve timely assistance, noting that as taxpayers, they should receive meaningful support during such emergencies.
She stressed that while the Minority sympathises with those affected and supports efforts to provide relief, the government must also adhere to the country’s constitutional and legal procedures when accessing public funds.
The MP made the remarks during a working visit to the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency, where she interacted with residents and party supporters and participated in the National Clean-Up Exercise.
Commenting on President John Dramani Mahama’s response to the disaster, Hon. Damata argued that the President should have visited the affected communities in person to express solidarity with victims and assess the extent of the destruction.
According to her, a personal visit would have reassured victims that the President stood with them during the difficult period, whereas conducting an aerial inspection by helicopter created the impression that he was detached from their situation.
She therefore called on the government to prioritise the welfare of flood victims by ensuring that every cedi allocated for relief is accounted for and spent on interventions that will make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected.