Former presidential staffer, Dennis Miracles Aboagye has criticised the government’s response to victims of the June 29 flooding, arguing that immediate support for affected residents should have been prioritised in the days following the disaster.
While acknowledging the announcement of relief funding, he questioned whether victims had received practical assistance when they needed it most.
“The next morning they said they had allocated 350 million cedis for flood relief and mitigation, but five days after the flood happened, many people still did not know where to go for support,” he said on Newsfile on JoyNews.
Aboagye used his own experience to illustrate what he described as gaps in the response system.
“I haven’t been able to enter my home. Nobody has called me. Nobody has come to me. Nobody has asked where I sleep or what my family is eating,” he stated.
He argued that beyond financial allocations, governments should ensure that displaced residents have access to temporary accommodation, food and other immediate necessities.
“For those who cannot find their way around, where are they sleeping? What are they eating? Those questions should have been addressed immediately,” he said.
Aboagye suggested that public facilities could have been converted into temporary shelters while longer-term assistance arrangements were being put in place.
According to him, citizens affected by flooding need clear information on how relief programmes work and how support can be accessed.
“I hear there is money allocated, but many people do not know where to register, who to contact, or how to benefit,” he said.
He maintained that effective disaster response requires both resources and systems that connect assistance quickly to those who need it.
