Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced a $250,000 relief contribution from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to support victims of the June floods in Ghana.
The amount, equivalent to approximately GH¢3 million, has been transferred to the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), which will oversee the distribution of the assistance to affected persons.
In a Facebook post on Friday, October 16, Mr Ablakwa said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had agreed to engage ADRA as an independent implementing partner for the relief intervention.
He explained that the decision was intended to ensure an independent process for identifying beneficiaries and distributing the funds, with the government not directly involved in selecting those who would receive assistance.
The announcement was made during the inauguration of Ghana’s National Consultative Committee on Regional Integration (NCCRI), which is mandated to oversee the implementation of ECOWAS regional integration programmes and social interventions in the country.
Mr Ablakwa also emphasised the need for transparency and accountability in managing the donation, indicating that the distribution process would be guided by integrity.
The ECOWAS contribution is expected to provide relief to people whose homes and livelihoods were affected by the June floods, as the government and humanitarian organisations continue efforts to address the consequences of the disaster.
The floods, which occurred on June 29, affected more than 38,000 people across the Greater Accra Region, displaced over 7,700 households and claimed at least 15 lives.
The relief package adds to ongoing efforts to support affected communities as they recover from the damage caused by the flooding.