By Nathaniel Nartey
Facebook: Nathaniel Nartey
Twitter: @Annertey_Nartey
MP for Ketu South, Dzifa Gomashie, has called for a State of Emergency to be declared in her Constituency and other areas affected by the floods which have displaced and destroyed homes of more than one thousand residents.
Madam Gomashie said the situation where thousands of people have lost their homes and livelihood merits a state of emergency. She bemoaned the situation where only 30 bags of rice have been provided as part of relief items.
”Some small things(relief items) have been sent, it’s welcome but it’s a drop in the ocean…..the number of people who are affected and what they have now is not sufficient. We have over 1,000 people affected and they brought 30 bags of rice, imagine. This is absolutely why I am calling for a State of Emergency to be declared here because this is an emergency. When you put on make up, go to work and return only to realise what you call home is no more, that is an emergency”, she said.
The call for a State of Emergency to be declared has been supported by Governance Analyst Bernard Oduro Takyi. Mr Oduro Takyi said such a move is timely and will give it the needed attention.
“Clearly the issue in Ketu South breeds enough grounds for a State of Emergency to be declared but due process must be followed. A State of Emergency under the tidal waves situation in Ketu South is purely a risk management mechanism. The MP knows that once an State of Emergency is declared then it calls for a calculated and deliberate action by the government to ensure that the people in Ketu South are safeguarded”, he pointed out.
Meanwhile, MCE for Keta, Emmanuel Gemega, disagrees. He said the issue has not escalated to the level where a State of Emergency is necessary. The situation at coastal areas in the Volta Region also puts Monday’s BECE in jeopardy as some schools have been flooded. Mr Gemega said the affected schools are not Examination Centers for Monday’s BECE adding that all is set for the Examinations to go ahead as planned.
”For a State of Emergency I am not sure we are there yet. The measures that we have put in place are yielding results and luckily the tidal waves are also capsizing and we have not recorded any downpour since Monday and the situation is improving”, according to the Municipal Chief Executive for Keta Emmanuel Gemega.
Meanwhile a resident of Kedzikope, a suburb of Keta, Dr. Olympio Attippoe, says the underground water which was flooding their homes has begun to dry up. He said some schools nearby were forced to go for midterm as a result of the floods.
“Some schools around me are still flooded so they have been given automatic mid-terms”, according to Dr. Attipoe.