The Minority in Parliament has called for an urgent briefing from the Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, on measures being implemented to prevent possible disease outbreaks following the devastating floods that have affected more than 38,000 people and resulted in 12 deaths.
The opposition caucus says the scale of the disaster requires immediate action from health authorities, particularly in monitoring affected communities where poor sanitation conditions could increase the risk of communicable diseases.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin said Parliament must be properly informed about the government’s preparedness and interventions to protect residents in flood-affected areas.
He warned that the destruction caused by the floods had created conditions that could facilitate the spread of diseases.
“Overflowing sanitation facilities create conditions for the rapid spread of communicable diseases,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin said.
He explained that the Minority is seeking details from the Health Minister on the government’s disease surveillance mechanisms, emergency medical supplies deployed to affected communities and plans to respond quickly should any public health emergency emerge.
According to him, the briefing should also provide clarity on how authorities intend to monitor vulnerable communities, including displaced persons who may now be living in temporary shelters or areas with limited access to clean water and sanitation facilities.
Galamsey and Flooding Debate
Beyond the immediate health concerns, the Minority also blamed what it described as poor environmental policies for contributing to the severity of flooding in parts of the country.
Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the government of worsening environmental degradation through policies that, according to him, have encouraged illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
He specifically mentioned the establishment of GoldBod and the Bank of Ghana’s Gold-for-Reserves programme, arguing that such initiatives have contributed to increased pressure on Ghana’s natural resources.
“Illegal mining destroys the very watersheds, wetlands and river systems that would otherwise channel rainfall away from our cities and farmlands,” he said.
The Minority Leader argued that damage to water bodies, wetlands and natural drainage systems has reduced the country’s ability to manage heavy rainfall, thereby increasing the impact of flooding.
He further questioned the government’s position that the floods were solely a natural disaster, insisting that human activities and policy decisions must also be considered.
“A government that subsidises these natural defences with one hand cannot credibly claim with the other hand that this year’s flooding was an act of nature,” he stated.
Call for Accountability
The Minority maintained that the government must take responsibility for policies it believes have contributed to environmental challenges and should provide clear explanations on measures being taken to prevent future disasters.
“The Minority holds the government accountable for the galamsey policy that is contrary to its own campaign promise and is contributing to the disaster it is now claiming to be responding to,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin added.
Meanwhile, emergency agencies and authorities continue relief and recovery operations in communities affected by the floods, with attention focused on providing assistance to displaced residents and restoring critical infrastructure.
Health officials are expected to intensify surveillance in affected areas as concerns grow over the humanitarian and public health consequences of one of the most severe flooding incidents recorded in the capital in recent years.
