A scene during the donation
Businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, has donated relief items worth GH¢1.45 million to victims of the June 29 floods that displaced hundreds of residents across Accra, as he called on government and citizens to enforce sanitation laws to end perennial flooding.
The downpour, which dumped over 170mm of rain, submerged homes in Mamobi, Nima, Alajo, Kaneshie and other low-lying areas, destroying property and livelihoods. On Saturday, a convoy of trucks moved into affected communities with bags of premium perfumed rice, cartons of tin tomatoes, tins of milk and bales of cloth for distribution.
Beneficiaries included residents of Mamobi, Nima at Beline Bridge, Alajo Assemblies of God, Alajo Central and North, Quay Mensah and Kaneshie Station.
Speaking during the distribution at Mamobi, Alhaji Agongo said the intervention was meant to provide immediate relief and restore dignity to families who lost everything.
“It is disheartening to see the entire burden of this calamity resting squarely on the government’s shoulders,” he said. “For me, we rise together, or we do not rise at all. We cannot afford to be mere spectators while our brothers and sisters suffer.”
The donation is the latest in a series of charitable works by the businessman. Over the years, he has funded school infrastructure, paid fees for underprivileged students, and settled medical bills for vulnerable patients across the country.
“As a Muslim, my faith teaches me that service to mankind is service to Allah,” Mr. Agongo stated. “Giving is not a choice, it is a duty. It is humane, and I am privileged that I can afford to share.”
Beyond relief, Mr. Agongo challenged state agencies to take decisive action on the root causes of flooding.
He called for strict enforcement of laws against indiscriminate waste disposal, building on waterways, and the regular desilting of drains.
“It does not speak well of Ghana, almost 70 years after independence, that we are dealing with the same problem every year,” he said. “We have the human resource, mineral wealth and technical capacity to address this. The measures may seem harsh at the beginning, but leadership must take the bull by the horn to bring lasting solutions and smiles to the people.”
He also urged a nonpartisan approach to flood management, noting that the disaster has affected Ghanaians since the 1980s and does not discriminate by politics or religion.
Residents who received the items described the donation as timely. For many in Mamobi and Nima, the supplies offered temporary respite after days of sleeping in classrooms and churches.
Mr. Agongo pledged to continue supporting vulnerable communities and urged other members of the business community to complement government efforts.
“True wealth is not counted in cedis, but in lives touched and burdens lifted,” he said.
A Daily Guide Report