The mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah, has said the MP for Klottey Korle, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, lied when she claimed food shared by the government to the vulnerable during the lockdown period, is being done on a partisan basis.
The government is feeding some four hundred thousand people in Accra, Kumasi, Tema and Kasoa – the areas which are under lockdown, as part of measures to mitigate the spread of coronavirus which has killed eight out of the six hundred thirty-six confirmed cases.
Read below the Accra mayor’s response to Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings:
COVID-19: Quit petty politicking on food distribution for the vulnerable
My attention has been drawn to a video of the Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle Constituency, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, sharing, what is believed to be food wrapped in plastic bags to some women she claimed to be Kayayee circulating on social media.
In the said video, Zanetor Rawlings alleged that in spite of claims by the government that food packages and hot meals are being distributed to poor households and the vulnerable in locked-down areas amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, the beneficiaries in her constituency are not receiving the food and those who have are being asked to show party membership cards before they are attended to.
This is sadly not the case and it’s unfortunate that at a time like this, such a statement would be made by an Honourable Member of Parliament who has been missing all this while [and] resurfaced out of the blue for attention.
I wish to put on record that officers from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in branded vests working with the Assemblies share over 5000 pieces of food packages to the vulnerable including Kayayee around Ridge, Ministerial Enclave, Kinbu, Tema Station and Afua Sutherland Children Park in the Central Business District (CBD) every day. Even though the government has welcomed efforts by all to support the effort to lessen the effects of the lockdown on the vulnerable, misinformation and attempts to politicise such efforts should not be countenanced.
If Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings decides to complement government efforts by sharing food to Kayayee, she should do so following set-down protocols which do not put vulnerable persons at further risks and would be better done by liaising with agencies that are mandated to work in the management of crisis and not attempt to score cheap political points while propagating falsehood.
This is a time when the nation and the world at large is battling a pandemic and unity of purpose with focus is expected of all in leadership.
I wish to urge all residents to continue to cooperate with national and local government and adhere to all the precautionary measures outlined by the President to slow the spread of the COVID-19 in the country.
This too, shall pass.
Signed
M. Adjei Sowah
Mayor of Accra
