MINORITY DEMANDS FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PROPOSED GH¢300 MILLION FLOOD RELIEF FUND

The Parliamentary Minority, led by Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has pledged its support for emergency government assistance to victims of the recent floods but insists that every cedi of the proposed  GH¢300 million flood relief fund must be fully accounted for.

Addressing a press briefing, Hon. Afenyo-Markin stated that while the Minority welcomes efforts to provide relief to affected communities, emergency financial assistance cannot replace the comprehensive flood prevention and disaster mitigation measures that the government promised but failed to implement.

He argued that expressions of sympathy and aerial assessments of flood-hit areas do not absolve the government of responsibility for failing to put effective drainage and flood control measures in place before the heavy rains. "Compassion for the victims of this crisis and accountability for the government that failed to prevent it are not mutually exclusive. Both are necessary, and the Minority insists on both," Hon. Afenyo-Markin said.

The Minority is calling on the government to submit a comprehensive, itemized report to Parliament detailing how the proposed GH¢300 million contingency fund will be allocated and spent.

According to Hon. Afenyo-Markin, the report should clearly outline:

- The specific flood-affected communities that will receive funding.
- The projects and interventions for which the funds will be used.
- The names of all contractors engaged, together with evidence that procurement processes comply with the Public Financial Management Act and other applicable procurement laws.

The Minority also wants the government to clearly distinguish between the two proposed allocations within the fund to ensure effective parliamentary oversight.

According to the caucus, the government should provide separate accounts for:

- ₵150 million earmarked for direct emergency relief and humanitarian assistance to affected families.
- ₵150 million allocated for flood mitigation and drainage improvement projects, supported by verifiable implementation plans and expenditure reports.

Hon. Afenyo-Markin said the Minority's demand for strict accountability is informed by previous experiences, noting that a government task force established for a similar purpose has yet to provide a full account of its expenditure.

He cautioned that Ghanaians have witnessed several emergency funding initiatives announced with great publicity but followed by little transparency or public accountability.

The Minority therefore maintains that the proposed ₵300 million flood relief package must be subject to rigorous parliamentary scrutiny to ensure that every allocation is used for its intended purpose and delivers meaningful support to flood victims.