Former President John Dramani Mahama and the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, have donated relief items to victims of the Akosombo and Kpong dams spillages.
Whilst Mr Mahama, the National Democratic Congress’ presidential candidate for the 2024 Election, donated relief items worth GH¢1.5 million, the Speaker presented GH¢100,000 cash to support the victims.
Former President Mahama donated 2,000 bags of rice, 500 cartons of cooking oil, 500 cartons of canned fish, 500 cartons of tinned tomatoes and 1,000 packs of bottled water.
The gesture was in fulfillment of a pledge he made to the people a fortnight ago when he visited the area.
The items were to be shared among victims across the 11 constituencies across the three regions hit by floods. The cash would also be used to support relief efforts by the authorities.
The beneficiary areas are Asuogyaman, North, Central and South Tongu, Anlo, Keta, Ketu South, North and South Dayi, Afadjato South and Ada constituencies.
The presentations were done on behalf of the benefactors by the Minority Leader and National Chairman of the NDC, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and Johnson Asiedu Nketiah respectively and by the Chief of Staff in the Speaker’s office, Kofi Attor, and a deputy clerk, Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror.
Presenting the items on behalf of the former president, Dr Forson described the floods as a man-made disaster, which was avoidable.
According to him, the Volta River Authority was negligent in handling the situation and must be made to answer for same.
The minority caucus, Dr Forson said, would push for a bi-partisan parliamentary probe into the spillage when the House reconvenes from recess.
Mr Asiedu Nketiah decried what he said was government’s lackadaisical attitude towards the victims saying government support should not be based on the voting pattern of people as the current regime was doing.
He said as a friend to the Volta region, the NDC stood with the victims; not pretending it could provide enough relief for all victims but could support in its small way.
On behalf of the Speaker, Mr Attor said community leaders must ensure the support of the Speaker reached the affected people.
The Anglican Church in the Volta Region has donated GH¢50,000 while Zipline has also donated 80 bags of rice to the victims.
The team after the donation proceeded to Galosota, Adidome and Mepe in the Anlo, Central and North Tongu constituencies to ascertain the level of devastation caused by the spillages.
FROM JULIUS YAO PETETSI, SOGAKOPE
