Only ₵38,000 allocated to address floods - former minister claims

Ranking member on the Works and Housing Committee of Parliament, Samson Ahi has said there is no money to purchase relief items for the victims of the floods that hit Tamale, the capital city of the Northern Region.

He added with “only ₵38,000 [allocated] to tackle flood in the whole country” it doesn't appear that the government is ready to address flood problems in the country.

Joy News has learnt that, the victims of the Tamale flood are yet to receive relief items from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

The NADMO in the region indicated there are no items in store to be distributed to the victims.

After the heavy flood that hit the Northern Region Capital, more than 3,000 victims were displaced.

Heavy rain, which lasted for two hours, displaced some residents of Gumani, Gumbihini, Kanvili Tuunaayili, Wurishe, Koblimahigu and Fuo.

Some thatch houses in the affected communities were submerged while containers, livestock and other valuables were carried away.

Some victims have resorted to sleeping in the open and in some places residents have resorted to open defecation after their only place of convenience was destroyed.

They had  hoped and waited for NADMO to deliver relief items, days after the incident.

Samson Ahi indicated the government “should fall on the contingency fund and get the Works and Housing Ministry money to work.”

He added that the government must tackle the drainage system in various cities to prevent the recurring flood situation in the country.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini said the delay is unacceptable considering the seriousness of the situation.

“I sympathise with the officials of NADMO in the region because my interaction with them reveal that they have nothing in their warehouse”, he said.

He added that the NADMO officials at the headquarters are yet to respond to the calls from the Regional office.