Floods: Aussies Call For Aid to Ghana

Christian Democratic Party senate team leaders in Western Australia and New South Wales have jointly called for a significant Australian contribution to the urgent provision of medical assistance to Ghana, the African nation which appears to have suffered most from current widespread inundation following exceptional rainfall across Central Africa.

CDP's WA Senate team leader Gerard Goiran said "The highest priority may be the threat of cholera, dysentry and typhoid. The Ghanaian Government led by President John Kufuor has been setting a fine example for Africa in terms of financial responsibility and prudent administration. So there exists an environment where the benefits of an aid project will genuinely reach the people who are suffering."

Pastor Paul Green, who leads the NSW CDP Senate team, added: "These devastating floods represent a tragic irony for Ghana, which for many years has suffered chronically from drought. Long-term drought has seriously impaired hydro-electricity production on which Ghana has traditionally relied, and this in turn has denied Ghanaians the full benefit of their wise government policies including currency stability and effective anti-corruption measures. The Ghanaians truly deserve our help.

Thousands of Australian citizens were born in Ghana., with the largest concentration of Ghanaian Australians being in inner south west Sydney. Ghanaian Australians have earned a reputation for hard work and sobriety, and they rarely trouble the courts or the welfare rolls.

Many Australians have connections with Ghana, especially through churches and through the mining industry.

Paul Green and Gerard Goiran are optimistic that practical generosity towards Ghana on the part of the Australian Government will prompt private companies and individuals to contribute.

Christian Democratic Party President Reverend the Hon Fred Nile MLC, supporting the call by Gerard Goiran and Paul Green, had this to say: "Ghana was the centre of the abominable slave trade, and western nations have a permanent responsibility to assist the Ghanian people. We can never do enough to compensate them for the wrongs done to their ancestors.