The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, says the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Floods has undertaken substantial efforts to support the flood victims following spillage in the Volta Region and floods in the north and would continue to work to ensure no affected household would be left behind in the relief and recovery efforts.
The assurance came during an Inter-Ministerial Committee on floods press briefing held in Accra on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.
Madam Osei-Opare, who doubles as Chairperson of the Committee, emphasised the government’s commitment to the effective and timely execution of relief and rehabilitation efforts.
“No one will be left behind,” affirming the government’s determination to mitigate the challenges faced by affected communities.
The Committee, she said, had been actively engaged in distributing essential relief items to communities, including toiletries, food supplies, medications, and other necessities, most recent of these efforts was in Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah Region.
She said government has allocated GH¢20 million to support the relief phase for communities affected by the Akosombo spillage and floods in the Oti, Savannah, and Bono-East Regions whiles the Ministry of Finance is exploring additional funding options from the World Bank and climate-related sources to further aid the affected communities.
Present at the media briefing were the Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adwutwum, Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, Director of Planning of the Water Resources Commission (WRC), Dr. Bob Alfa, Director of Public Health of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Seji Saji, Volta Regional Minister, Â Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, as well as other well know dignitaries.
The CEO of the VRA, Ing. Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, provided updates on ongoing emergency response efforts in the Volta, Eastern, Greater Accra, Savannah, Bono East, and Oti Regions. He said VRA, in collaboration with NADMO, has been providing shelter, food, clean water, sanitation services, and other essential supplies to flood victims since the floods began and will continue to do so until normalcy is restored in the flood-affected areas.
Dr. Bob Alfa of the Water Resources Commission (WRC) detailed efforts in providing clean water to the affected communities to prevent the outbreak of waterborne diseases. He said WRC in collaboration with VRA has conducted a fumigation exercise in all impacted communities, contributing to improved living conditions.
Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe from the GHS highlighted heightened surveillance on priority diseases in affected districts and regions, focusing on preventing the spread of diseases such as cholera, malaria, respiratory infections, skin infections, and mental health issues.
In her closing remarks, Madam Osei-Opare said the government would continue to put measures in place to ensure that all the flood victims and their properties are safe and secured.
