Government is tapping into the expertise of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), tasking one it men, to lead an aggressive, nationwide flood mitigation taskforce.
Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah, who is the Director General, Joint Operations, Ghana Armed Force, has been appointed to lead this exercise according to Minister for Government Communications and spokesperson to the President, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, and their works are expected to be felt going forward.
It is not clear if his team is different from the Presidential Anti-Flood Committee set up last year March headed by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Dogbe. Details of what his team entails was not revealed in the brief statement.
The Minister in a social media post on Thursday night, indicated that, Brigadier Okae-Yeboah will brief the media today, Friday, July 3, at 11am, revealing the shape and form the exercise is going to take.
“He has been tapped to lead an uncompromising, robust, and all-action Flood Mitigation Exercise. At 11am tomorrow morning, he will address the public on the operations of his team and steps being taken to decisively protect Ghanaians from further flooding”, his post said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry for Finance has released a total of GHs350 million for flood relief following the devastation that engulfed the country especially Accra wreaking homes, businesses, roads, and grinding daily lives into a halt.
President John Dramani Mahama, after inspecting the extent of damage directed that the Minister, Dr Ato Forson to quickly release the funds from the Contingency Fund.
The last Sunday-Monday flood swept through regions like Greater Accra, Central, Volta Regions, killing 34 people according to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).
Meanwhile, the havoc was not peculiar to Ghana. Some West African nations including Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo and lives sometimes higher number of lives were lost.
Before Brigadier Yeboah takes over, there are suggestion for him to pay attention to, to enhance their work. Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, following the announcement by the Minister shared the view below.
Dear Brigadier General Forster Okae-Yeboah,
The Government Spokesperson and Minister for Information, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has announced that you have been tasked to “lead an uncompromising, robust, and all-action Flood Mitigation Exercise.”
I wish I could say congratulations, but knowing the enormity of the problem you’re to confront, I can only wish you well. As the Director General in charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, I’m convinced you will be equal to the task.
As you and your team begin work, permit me to make a few suggestions.
- Announce hotlines through which people can report constructions and major infractions that have blocked waterways and are causing havoc. You cannot know everything, but the people who have bottled up these concerns can call your attention to the locations.
- Look out for people within your team who would want to use this operation to make money. I’ve heard a lot about the anti-galamsey operations spearheaded by soldiers. It’s really dirty. Let this one be different.
- Let the “uncompromising” in the Minister’s word be what it denotes, not as it connotes in Ghana. Uncompromising should be uncompromising, not uncompromising on the downtrodden and selective on the rich and powerful.
- Finally, at the end of the exercise, there should be a long list of violators facing prosecution. Prominent on this list should be the government officials who granted permits to people to build on unapproved lands.
Until corrupt government officials realise that their actions have consequences for them, they will continue to take money and abet the criminal indiscipline that is costing lives and property in this country.
So, the team should have the police and the right prosecutorial bodies on hand to check the legal boxes and effect legal arrests and detentions.
Once again, I wish you well.
Yours sincerely,
Manasseh Azure Awuni.
(A boy who once wished to be a soldier and still admires the military from afar.)
Dear followers, you may add your suggestions or blow the whistle on areas you think the task force should focus on.
By Gifty Boateng