Lockdown: GHC80 million was approved for distribution of food items - John Jinapor

Member of Parliament for Yapei Kusawgu Constituency, John Jinapor, has expressed shock in the manner at which NADMO has been distributing food to the vulnerable in lockdown areas.

This, he said, is because the finance committee in parliament approved GH¢80 million for the distribution of food items for the lockdown period.

His reaction falls at the back of videos on social media showing crowds gathered in queues for food and other items which was been given out by NADMO.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, he added that even though enough time was not allocated to them to scrutinize the document they committee had to approve it due to its urgency.

“We had to ask for one hour to study the document but the chairman said no he will give us 10 minutes so we went but because of the urgency we had to allow this 40/40 to pass but clearly if you look at the videos and crowds I think it’s not going well with the way it’s being distributed. If we had data we knew your income bracket to determine your tax liability such that we can identify the needy. We can correct the mistake but NADMO should know better,” he added.

Mr Jinapor added that the committee’s request for details of how the distribution will be done was ignored.

“…40 for the soft foods that is the cooked foods and 40 for the dry foods so in all we approved 80 million for that exercise. And we asked the Minister for details and criteria and they did not give us that.”

The Member of Parliament for the Sekondi Constituency, Andrew Agyapa Mercer speaking on the same platform also condemned NADMO’s failure to adhere to the social distancing orders.

“… Asokwa should be a lesson for the people and NADMO. This shouldn’t have happened at the first place but then this should serve as a lesson for people.”

He however refuted claims by John Jinapor that details of the food distribution was not given out to the committee members.

He said “we provided responses. We said NADMO has some data in Accra and Kumasi, the population is about 6 to 7 million and so if you take 5 percent of it then it should give you 400,000 and that was indicated.”