President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate release of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund to support flood relief and mitigation efforts following the devastating floods that affected parts of Accra and other communities in southern Ghana on Monday, June 29.
The directive, announced on Tuesday, June 30, forms part of the government’s emergency response to the widespread flooding caused by hours of unusually heavy rainfall.
According to a statement issued by the Minister for Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, half of the amount – GH¢150 million has been earmarked for immediate relief assistance to individuals and communities affected by the floods.
The remaining GH¢150 million will be used to finance flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing the frequency and impact of flooding in vulnerable areas.
As part of the emergency response, President Mahama has also ordered the deployment of personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service to support the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other security agencies in ongoing rescue and relief operations across the capital and other affected communities.
Earlier in the day on June 30, the President conducted an aerial assessment of the flood-hit areas to evaluate the extent of the destruction and announced a series of interventions intended to protect residents and strengthen the country’s flood response.
The government says the emergency funding is expected to accelerate relief efforts while supporting longer-term measures to reduce the impact of future flooding incidents.
