Assist Kulmasa disaster victims — MP

Page 14, March 8, 2010
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Mr Donald Dari Soditey, has appealed to the government and non-governmental agencies to assist victims of a recent rainstorm that hit Kulmasa in his constituency.
He said on February 20, 2010, a devastating rainstorm hit the town, ripped off the roofs of more than 73 houses, while over 700 people, mostly women and children, were rendered homeless.
In a statement on the floor of Parliament, Mr Soditey said public property which was affected included two primary school buildings, a Community Health Improvement Programme (CHIP) compound and the central mosque in the town.
Mr Soditey said the victims were at the moment putting up with relatives in nearby communities such as Gindasuo and Nyoli.
The MP explained that foodstuffs and personal belongings destroyed during the disaster amounted to several thousands of Ghana cedis.
He added that as a result of the rainstorm, teaching and learning had become difficult, since schools which were destroyed during the disaster were now holding classes under trees.
Teachers, the MP stated, currently used improvised teaching and learning materials and appealed for assistance from all quarters, since the damage was too much for the district assembly to bear.
MPs who contributed to the statement sympathised with the victims of the rainstorm and called on the government to properly resource the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to enable it to offer prompt assistance to people in times of disaster.
Meanwhile, the House continued the debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address presented to Parliament on February 25, 2010.
The debate continued to be polarised, as MPs from the Majority side accused the NPP government of leaving behind a run-down economy, while the Minority side accused the President of failed promises.
The presence of the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu, to take part in the debate generated argument between the two sides of the House.
The MP for Atwima-Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, raised a point of order when Mrs Mould-Iddrisu was given the chance to make her submission.
He explained that it would be proper for the Executive not to interfere with the debate and allow MPs to deliberate on the address.
But the Majority Leader, Mr Cletus Avoka, referred the House to Article 111 of the Constitution which permitted the Vice-President, ministers and deputy ministers to take part in debates and proceedings of the House.
The First Deputy Speaker, Mr Edward Doe Adjaho, then ruled that the Attorney-General could take part in the debate.