Minister responds to criticisms over Mahama’s aerial inspection of flood-hit areas

Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has defended President John Dramani Mahama's decision to undertake an aerial assessment of the recent floods, insisting the President acted out of duty rather than for public spectacle.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament during discussions on the recent flooding that claimed lives and displaced several residents, Kwakye Ofosu dismissed criticism that the President should have visited affected communities on foot instead of using a helicopter.

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According to him, President Mahama's responsibility was to obtain a comprehensive view of the scale of the disaster to coordinate an effective national response.

"The President did not go for a jolly ride. The President was not in the helicopter for leisure. As President, he needed to take firm action, and the way to do it is to see the extent of the problem," he told Parliament.

Kwakye Ofosu argued that while some critics believed the President should have focused on visiting a few affected homes and interacting with victims, the demands of the presidency required a broader assessment of the disaster.

"There are those who, for political reasons, suddenly believe that by merely going to one or two houses to shake hands, they have done what was right. But the responsibilities of a President are far weightier than those of an opposition leader," he stated.

He further cautioned against what he described as attempts to politicise a national tragedy, stressing that the focus should remain on finding solutions rather than assigning blame.

"There is no room for that kind of misguided politicking in this discussion," he said.

To underscore the severity of the floods, the minister cited rainfall data discussed in Parliament, noting that about 140 millimetres of rain fell within 13 hours, far exceeding the 56 millimetres recorded over the whole of 2024.

He said the unprecedented volume of rainfall made widespread flooding almost inevitable.

"It is only logical that we are going to suffer a deluge. Those narratives must be expunged. There must be no room for such illogical conclusions. There must be no room for such misguided politicking," Kwakye Ofosu added.

His comments come amid public debate over the government's response to the floods, with some critics questioning President Mahama's decision to inspect the affected areas from the air instead of making immediate visits to flood-hit communities.

NA/VPO

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