The Executive Director of Child Rights International, Mr Bright Appiah has raised concerns about the non-inclusion of the Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection or its representative in the inter-ministerial committee set up to coordinate government’s response to the damage caused by spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams.
According to Mr Appiah, many children have been affected by the flooding situation in the Volta Region and currently coping with only the relief items provided by The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
“It is an error that the Minister for Gender and Social Protection has not been added to the formed interministerial committee. The situation in the Volta Region has displaced 10, 897 kids, these kids currently have become vulnerable, losing their homes, schools and everything. The state will need to provide social protection for them” he said.
The inter-ministerial committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare. The committee also includes ministers from National Security, Interior, Defence, Energy, Finance, Local Government, Works and Housing, Roads and Highways, Environment, Sanitation, Lands and Natural Resources and Information.
The child rights advocate added “Moreover, if we really want to do a good job then we need to look at it from the social point of view and not even think of neglecting the Gender and Social Protection Ministry, because experts from this ministry will clearly look at the issue at the social point of view, the welfare system of these victims and give the appropriate measures suitable to address the issues.“
Mr Bright Appiah noted that the flooding situation has made some victims more physically and psychologically vulnerable, hence the need to have a representative of the Ministry on the committee.
“Therefore, if we don’t involve the Gender Ministry or an expert from the Ministry in the inter-ministerial committee, then it raises concerns if we are ready to address the social problems or just form a committee to look at the current flooding as an emergency, which NADMO can do. But if we are looking at the long term and we want to integrate the victims back into our society, then we need to involve that ministry” Mr Appiah said.
Meanwhile about 26,000 people have been displaced in the Volta Region and some parts of the Eastern region as a result of spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams.
By Clara Boadi Konadu