John Mahama during his visit to the affected areas
The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and his party executives have been slammed for ‘politicising’ flood victims’ misery by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after they used the issue to criticise the government.
Severe flooding has hit some areas in Volta and Eastern Regions in towns and villages along the Lower Volta River enclave, with Mepe being the worst affected after a spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.
With Ghana just a year and two months from the general election, the NDC was quick to try to seize on the impact of the floods, creating the impression that the government does not care.
Mr. Mahama and some notable members of the NDC have created the impression that if the floods had happened elsewhere other than the NDC stronghold, a state of emergency would have been declared.
“It is clear that the scope and scale of the flooding of communities along the Volta River is bigger than our crippled economy can bear.
“I recommend to the Government to declare a State of Emergency in the affected areas and request relief assistance from our bilateral and multilateral partners immediately,” the NDC flagbearer wrote on his Facebook page.
Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, and his colleague Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP for North Tongu, have also accused President Akufo-Addo of being insensitive, pleading with him to apologise to flood victims for his humorous comment that they did not vote for him.
NPP
However, the ruling NPP’s Director of Communications, Richard Ahiagbah, has chastised the NDC flagbearer and his supporters for engaging in tribal politics in the midst of a disaster.
Mr. Ahiagbah stated that the NPP will not allow the opposition to use ethnocentric remarks to sow discord and instability in the country.
“The idea that government will stand aloof and have people suffer is something that I can’t fathom, but that was the notion the NDC and its flagbearer is advancing in the Volta Region, creating the impression government doesn’t care about them and it’s painful,” he noted.
He pointed out that when the unfortunate incident happened, the NDC was in the Volta Region campaigning and telling the people that “because they are Ewes, the government will not support them, and this I see to be unfortunate.”
He stated that President Akufo-Addo will continue to shame his critics because he has proven to be a president for all throughout the years.
“President Akufo-Addo was in the Volta Region because a portion of the Ghanaian population he leads were in crisis and not because they voted or didn’t vote for him,” he intimated.
By Ernest Kofi Adu