Former President and National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has called for stringent oversight in the allocation of drought relief funds earmarked for farmers in Northern Ghana.
Addressing a rally in Ayorya, located in the Kintampo South District of the Bono Region, Mr. Mahama emphasized the critical need for the GH¢500 million requested from the government’s contingency fund to be disbursed equitably, ensuring that it reaches those who are most in need without any political interference.
Mr. Mahama urged the government to prioritize transparency and accountability in the distribution process, recommending that local chiefs be actively involved to prevent potential misappropriation of the funds. He expressed concerns about the possibility of the funds being diverted to benefit supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), citing alleged instances of mismanagement in the handling of previous relief funds, such as those during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the severe impact of the ongoing drought on farmers, Mr. Mahama called on Parliament to expedite the approval of the relief funds to provide timely assistance to those affected.
“The NPP has made things difficult and because of their bad luck, it didn’t rain this year. As we speak, Parliament is yet to approve compensation for the drought victims. We won’t allow them to share the funds among themselves like they did with the COVID funds. The support must reach the intended beneficiaries, and we’ll be watching closely. The chiefs must be allowed to be part of the distribution process,” he stated.
