Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has accused the government of acting “most unconstitutionally” by withdrawing GHS 350 million for flood relief, while strongly criticising the distribution of baked beans and Indomie noodle packs to displaced victims.
Contributing on the floor of Parliament to Speaker Bagbin’s statement on the flooding situation, the Effutu MP rejected government claims that the GHS 350 million was drawn from the Contingency Fund.
He described the assertion as “false” and “most misleading,” revealing that the Contingency Fund “has suffered a court order” and citing a supportive letter from the Attorney-General dated 1 July.
Hon. Afenyo-Markin argued that the government breached constitutional provisions by bypassing Parliament to access the money from alternative state accounts.
He noted that even though Parliament, through the Finance Committee, granted approval under Article 177 with knowledge of a court order, the government was legally required to return to the House.
“That government has breached Article 178 of the Constitution. Mr Speaker, they came under Article 177,” he said.
“The right thing for them to have done was to have come to this Parliament. Mr Speaker, for government to use another source—to go into other accounts of the state to withdraw money—Mr Speaker, it is most unconstitutional and they should know this. Mr Speaker, it does not allow for transparency,” he stated.
The Minority Leader turned his attention to the specific relief items being shared with affected communities, questioning the procurement process and arguing that the food items failed to match the urgent, practical needs of the victims.
“Mr Speaker, we saw NADMO sharing baked beans and Indomie. Baked beans. Baked beans,” he said. “Mr Speaker, people have lost properties. Mr Speaker, they need rice. They need maize. They need cooking oil. Mr Speaker, they need government intervention to restore their businesses. Mr Speaker, we don’t even know how they procured these baked beans. Mr Speaker, people need blankets. People need mattresses. Mr Speaker, they have refused.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
