Veep presents 3.5 billion-cedi relief to flood victims

Accra, June 7, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday presented 3.5 billion cedis worth of relief items to 1,650 households living along the Lafa Basin in Accra that were affected by last week's floods, that claimed about six lives and destroyed property. The items from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) comprise 1,000 bags of rice, 1,000 mats, cups, plates, second hand clothing and cooking oil.

Vice President Mahama, who was accompanied by Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ms Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State, Mr. Magnus Opare Asamoah, Deputy Minister of Transport and technocrats from his Ministry and officials from NADMO spent over three hours touring communities along the basin that span Kwarshie-Bu and Mallam.

The tour took the team to New Weija, McCarthy Hill, New Gbawe, Santa Maria and Mile Seven.

At New Gbawe, Vice President Mahama, who noticed electricity cables lying exposed along a drain expressed concern about the rising incidence of lawlessness in society.

He observed that there are a number of obstacles that must be removed to reverse future disasters and directed NADMO and other stakeholders to be proactive to prove to the affected communities that government was genuinely concerned about their plight. Mr Owusu-Agyemang said the disaster was a result of the people's lifestyle and questioned why people should throw garbage in drains to affect the flow of water.

He called for public education to help reverse the situation while government is mobilising funds to construct bigger drains to avert future floods.

Mr Ben Brown, Greater Accra Regional Director of NADMO also expressed dissatisfaction about the blocking of water passages with waste. He said it would take government some time to rectify the situation.