Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament for Ketu South, has expressed her deep frustration with the ongoing struggle to secure assistance for her constituents who continually suffer from the adverse effects of climate change, including floods and related disasters.
During an interview with JoyNews on Monday, October 2, 2023, the MP conveyed her immense distress regarding the difficulties she has encountered in securing sustained support for her constituents.
She emphasized the relentless challenges she has faced since assuming office as MP in 2019, explaining how they have taken a severe toll on her and left her feeling overwhelmed.
“I do not know what I’m going to do. I’m here biting my fingers and praying and asking God why? 3 years going on – 3 years! I have not breathed since 2019. I’m suffocating. I’m drowning,” she lamented.
Additionally, the MP did not hold back in directly criticizing President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government, attributing their administration to the redundancy that local government assemblies are currently experiencing.
She also expressed her dismay at the ineffectiveness of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in addressing the ongoing challenges faced by her constituents, particularly those caused by climate change and recurrent floods over the past three years.
“I am going to answer you and I do not care how it lands in anybody’s ears or heart. President Nana Addo and his government have collapsed not only NADMO, they have collapsed the local government structure.
“This assembly here is so toothless, they cannot even provide a bag of rice or corn. They have not provided one bag of rice or corn in the whole period that this has been going on. Everything you (the president) are collapsing. I wish that I don’t have to raise my voice when I’m speaking but I’m so up my nose in this mess that we find ourselves in, I cannot sleep,” she added.
Furthermore, the Ketu South area has been repeatedly affected by flooding, resulting in the destruction of communities, yet little to no assistance has been provided to her and her constituents in dealing with these crises.
She made a fervent plea to the government, urging them to prioritize the completion of the sea defense wall in the region, as well as in other vulnerable communities like Keta, in order to provide a lasting solution to the challenges faced by her constituents.
In addition, Dzifa Gomashie pointed out that Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia had recently visited the constituency as part of his campaign to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
However, she expressed disappointment that he had not taken the opportunity to visit the affected people in the constituency during his visit.