Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the majority chief whip, has revealed that without a shift in mentality, no amount of money would be sufficient to lessen the effects of flooding in the nation.
This comes after Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Minister of works and housing, asked Parliament to take into account to provide funds from the common fund, sanitation tax, and road fund to his ministry so that it could carry out its mission effectively.
According to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), eight people died last week as a result of flooding caused by torrential rains.
Francis Asenso-Boakye then requested for a special fund to address the issue, while updating the house on steps the government has taken to solve the recurring issue.
The Majority Chief Whip, however, claimed that Ghanaians have a very poor attitude towards house construction. He claimed that some individuals construct on waterways and that all of these things cause flooding.
“We cannot pretend about that. Yes, the point about funding is right and justified, but let’s also realize that there will never be enough funds. However, what I agree with is the point that what is due, especially with the statutory payments, must be dispensed.
“We will implore the minister [of finance] that, for us to save lives and properties and probably minimize these issues, we should be seen to be doing incremental releases. We shouldn’t sit for the arrears to become huge, and then we go and scratch the surface. We want to implore the minister of finance that we should pay more attention to flooding needs.”
Frank Annoh-Dompreh
The Majority Chief Whip urged an all-hands-on-deck strategy for attitudinal transformation. He said, “We should speak about people pouring plastic waste into waterways.”
Finance Minister Should Release Funds To Deal With Flooding
Isaac Asiamah, the chairman of the works and housing committee of parliament, also requested money from Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to address the nation’s ongoing flooding problems.
This comes after Francis Asenso-Boakye, Minister of Works and Housing, pleaded with Parliament to take into account to give the Ministry some of the money from the road and sanitation tax funds to help address the issue.
Mr. Asiamah responded to the presentation by stating that the Ministry needs sufficient resources to carry out its task.
“When we are prioritizing areas, flooding should be indicated. Last year, the Minister for works and housing was given only 18 percent of his release, so he is really suffering. Minister of finance, please finance the works and housing ministry so that they can work.”
Isaac Asiamah
However, Governs Agbodza, the Minority chief whip, also called for a shift in mentality as the government works to lessen the effects of flooding. According to him, issues are occasionally not just caused by a lack of money or by natural calamities, but instead by the citizens of the nation themselves.
“The Minister of Finance can release every money, if we all neglect the regulations around building in waterways, he will give us the money. He can actually go and desilt all the gutters but because we have gone to block more channels, the flooding will still happen.”
Governs Agbodza
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