The opposition member of Parliament for the Volta Region's North Tongu constituency recently accused the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government of withholding important details from Parliament and the Ghanaian people about ECOWAS's financial assistance for victims of the Akosombo Dam leak.
According to the legislator, intercepted papers from the ECOWAS Commission show that the ECOWAS Commission approved US$200,000.00 (GHS2.4 million) in response to Ghana's application, which was not reported during the recent speaking of the 2024 Budget.
According to the MP, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, first announced the government's requests to the World Bank and the Global Shield Against Climate Risk Fund at the budget presentation on November 15, 2023. The reported approval of ECOWAS funds two weeks before the budget presentation has raised eyebrows and sparked calls for openness and responsibility.
In a press release, the MP asked, "Why has the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government disguised from Parliament and the Ghanaian people that they had extra applied to ECOWAS for aid for the Akosombo dam spillage flood victims?"
The legislator also underlined the importance of timely transparency and accountability for all government funding requests filed to foreign organizations, as well as explanation on how these money is used.
The MP's allusion to intercepted documents from the ECOWAS Commission has alarmed the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament. Members of the caucus are anticipated to ask for full disclosure during legislative sessions, increasing scrutiny on the government's management of monies earmarked for Akosombo Dam disaster relief.
As the situation evolves, it will be interesting to observe how the government responds to the charges, and whether this disclosure will damage the public's belief in the openness of financial dealings linked to the Akosombo Dam leak.
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