The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has demanded that the Minister for Finance appear before Parliament next week to provide a comprehensive briefing on the disbursement of GH¢350 million allocated for flood relief and emergency response.
Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the Business Statement, Afenyo-Markin underscored that the recent devastating floods constitute a national emergency, necessitating the highest standards of government accountability and transparency.
The Minority Leader contended that the Majority Leader should have already scheduled the Finance Minister to address the House under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution. He emphasized that while Parliament possesses various oversight mechanisms including parliamentary questions and standard ministerial statements, the gravity of the current situation demands a direct and immediate briefing from the Finance Minister.
Beyond the financial allocations, Afenyo-Markin raised critical questions regarding the National Disaster Management Organisation’s (NADMO) distribution of relief items. He cited troubling reports from heavily impacted communities, such as Adenta and Madina, where flood victims reportedly received baked beans as part of their emergency supplies.
According to the Minority Leader, when NADMO officials were questioned about the appropriateness of these items, they explained that the baked beans were external donations rather than part of the government’s officially procured relief packages. However, Afenyo-Markin noted that Parliament remains uninformed about the origin of these donations, further complicating the transparency of the relief distribution process.
The Minority Leader maintained that a formal briefing by the Finance Minister is essential to offer Parliament full clarity on the exact utilization and breakdown of the GH¢350 million fund, the procurement and distribution protocols governing all relief items, and the state’s overarching strategic response to the ongoing flood disaster.
Eugenia Ewoenam Osei
