The National Disaster Management Organization(NADMO) has refuted reports claiming that the hot meal being served to vulnerable persons in lockdown areas is being done along political party lines.
The opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) Member of Parliament for Korle Klottey Dr. Zenator Rawlings has accused government of being biased in the distribution of food to the target audience.
She alleged that hungry women and children are being asked to show their party cards before being given food, describing this as unacceptable, adding that the Coronavirus is no respecter of party colours.
Dr. Zanetor said this when she distributed food items to some head porters (Kayayei) in Accra on Tuesday.
“This must end now and immediately because coronavirus does not know NPP and NDC. Neither does it know CPP, PNC, PPP or APC etc,” she fumed.
“This is a humanitarian crisis, women and children are hungry. They are locked down because it’s not their fault the virus is in Ghana.”
She added: “People are literally being asked to show evidence of their party membership before being given food.
“This is not acceptable [and] this is very sad [because] the virus does not show whether you are NDC or NPP before it infects you.”
But responding to her claims on Kasapa 102.5FM, Wednesday, the Public Relations Officer of NADMO, George Ayisi rubbished the claims urging the public to disregard her comments.
“There’s no truth in that allegation she’s making. I’m on the grounds and I’ve gone around several places and there’s no time for you to even ask which party the beneficiaries belong to whether they are NPP or NDC supporters. The truth is that we went to a place (ghetto) to share food and the people were rather hesitant to collect the food because they thought it was a particular political party that was sharing the food. They took the food only after we told them we were from NADMO and that the government had sent us to bring them food because they are not able to go out during this lockdown period. We’ve gone to places which are strongholds of a particular political party where the residents decline the food. Later they ask their children to come for the food so if I hear allegations that the food is being shared based on political affiliation it surprises me. It’s the hungry person who needs food to eat that is our target and not the party the person belongs to.” George Ayisi told host Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Anopa Kasapa on Kasapa FM.
Source: Kasapafmonline.com/102.5FM