Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has described as pathetic a statement by the Deputy Majority leader that the tidal wave that hit the coast of the Volta Region is a result of sand weaning.
According to him, the claim is a clear demonstration of a certain lack of understanding of the geomorphologic formation and the causes of degradation of the coastlines of the country.
Sand weaning, he said, does not cause tidal wave as being proclaimed the Deputy leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and stressed the phenomenon is the result of the rising sea level.
Responding to the claim by the Deputy Majority leader who bandied a picture in Parliament and claimed it shows sand weaning activities on the Keta Beach, the South Dayi MP stressed the coastline of the Volta Region has no forest.
He said, “Our coastline has no forest; from Aflao to Anyami through Anloga is full of pristine sand. It has nothing like forested beachline that he introduced to you as being representative in terms of photography of the coastline of Keta.”
“I’m not trying to underrate the relevance of degrading our coastline as a result of sand weaning but to say that the lives of the over 4,000 people were destroyed by a tidal wave as a result of sand weaning is unacceptable,” he said.
The government, he said, is displaying a certain laissez-faire attitude to the problems happening in the Volta Region.
According to him, disasters have occurred in other parts of the country that were speedily reacted to by NADMO and indeed the government.
“We are not saying there should not be disasters in the Volta because these are natural occurrences that no one can stop. But when it happens, how does the government react compared to other areas?”
“It is not for fanciful reason that government institutions have decentralized offices. It is not for fanciful reason that we established the NADMO Office in Keta but to be able to move with alacrity and bring comfort and support to the people before the national office comes in,” he stressed.
Hon. Dafeamekpor stressed it is shameful that the Keta NADMO office is so short of resources with the regional and national offices in a similar state and could therefore not go to the aid of victims of the tidal wave.
“Instead of the government applauding the efforts of the Volta MPs, most of who are presently in the affected areas distributing relief items, the Deputy Majority leader comes here to say we are doing propaganda,” he stressed.
The South Dayi MP noted if a government elected by people cannot assist in times of crisis, the best should have been to keep quiet.
“If they cannot do that they should not condemn the people who are committed to bringing comfort to the affected people,” he added.
He appealed to corporate Ghana to move in as a matter of urgency and bring some assistance to the thousands of people who are in dire straits in Anlo.
Source: Mypublisher24.com/Osumanu A-Hassan