Bawumia's state of emergency call deserves serious consideration – Manhyia South MP

The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has thrown his weight behind former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's call for the government to consider declaring a state of emergency in flood-hit areas, arguing that the scale of the recent disaster warrants extraordinary action.

According to the lawmaker, the devastating floods that swept through parts of the country have created an unprecedented situation that should not be treated as a routine disaster response.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Mr Awuah said Dr Bawumia's proposal was grounded in the severity of the destruction and should be given serious attention rather than dismissed.

"I don't think it is far-fetched. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is speaking from a place of justification, and for me, I think that is something worth giving deep thought to," he said.

The Vice Chairman of Parliament's Subsidiary Legislation Committee argued that while Ghana has experienced floods under previous administrations, the latest disaster stands out because of its scale and impact.

Responding to claims that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) did not advocate a state of emergency during flood incidents under the Akufo-Addo administration, Mr Awuah maintained that the current situation is fundamentally different.

"There have been people who died during flooding in Akufo-Addo's time, without a doubt. But in terms of magnitude, have you seen this happen in the last eight years that President Akufo-Addo and Dr Bawumia were in government? You've never seen this before, have you?"

"Apart from the June 3 disaster that killed over 150 people, have you seen this magnitude of disaster resulting from flooding in this country before? It's never happened," he stated.

Mr Awuah further argued that, with authorities still assessing the extent of the destruction and forecasts pointing to the likelihood of more rainfall, the government should consider stronger emergency measures to coordinate relief efforts and protect vulnerable communities.

"And we are yet to see the scale of devastation that has been experienced as a result of this disaster. Don't you think there should be a state of emergency declared for us to first assess the scale of devastation and then manage the situation going forward, particularly because of the forecast of more rain?" he asked.

To support his argument, the Manhyia South MP pointed to the rare public advisory issued by the Interior Minister on the day of the floods, urging residents to remain indoors.

According to him, such an advisory underscored the gravity of the situation and reinforced the need for exceptional interventions.

"Remember, the Minister for the Interior issued a statement asking people to stay indoors. When was the last time you had a Minister for the Interior issue such a statement? When you put all these things together, clearly Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is speaking from a place of justification," he argued.

The comments come after former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia urged the Mahama administration to consider declaring a state of emergency in flood-affected areas if meteorological forecasts indicate further heavy rainfall.

Dr Bawumia said such a declaration would enable the government to mobilise resources more effectively, strengthen coordination among emergency agencies and implement urgent interventions to safeguard lives and property as the country continues to grapple with the aftermath of the deadly floods.

NA/BAI