Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin Demands Finance Minister Brief Parliament on GH¢350 Million Flood Relief Expenditure

The Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin, has called on the Minister for Finance to appear before Parliament next week to provide a detailed briefing on the disbursement of GH¢350 million allocated for flood relief and emergency response.

Commenting on the Business Statement, Afenyo Markin argued that the recent floods constitute a national emergency and therefore require the highest level of accountability and transparency from the government.

He said the Majority Leader should have scheduled the Finance Minister to address Parliament under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution, stressing that although Parliament has several oversight mechanism such as parliamentary questions and ministerial statements a direct briefing by the Finance Minister is the most appropriate response given the seriousness of the situation.

The Minority Leader also raised concerns over the distribution of relief items by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO). 

He cited reports from affected communities, including Adenta and Madina, where victims reportedly received baked beans as part of relief supplies.

According to Afenyo Markin, when questions were raised about the items, NADMO officials explained that the baked beans were not part of the officially procured relief packages but were instead donations. 

He said Parliament has not been informed of the source of those donations, raising concerns about transparency and accountability in the relief distribution process.

He maintained that a comprehensive briefing by the Finance Minister would provide Parliament with clarity on the utilization of the GH¢350 million, the procurement and distribution of relief items, and the government's overall response to the flood disaster.

Report filed by PKB