Reports: King Amoah
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of the unprecedented flooding in Accra, a powerful voice has emerged and calling for absolute transparency in the management of relief funds.
Apostle John Kwaku Appiah, Head Pastor of the Faith Outreach Ministries in Oforikrom Kumasi, has issued a passionate appeal to the government to publish the names of all flood victims slated to receive financial assistance, alongside a detailed breakdown of all donations received and the proposed methods of disbursement.
The Demand for Accountability:
Following the disaster the government and the general public mobilized resources to support those who lost their homes and livelihoods.
While Apostle Appiah commends the state and public for their swift humanitarian response , he noted that government alone cannot bear the burden of disaster relief.
It is against this background that the clergyman is asking that the process of the funds disbursement must be characterized by fairness.
To ensure transparency and proper accountability, the government must publish the names of the beneficiaries in both state and private media houses, Apostle Appiah stated in an interview with the Correspondent.
He raised concerns that without a transparent list and a clear disclosure of total funds collected, there would be a lingering risk of financial diversion where relief money could end up in the wrong pockets rather than reaching the real victims who need it most.
A Call for Strategic Policy and Stern Punishment:
Beyond immediate relief, the clergyman addressed the recurring nature of the floods.
He called for a robust, strategic approach to urban planning and disaster management.
He specifically urged the government to implement stern punishment for individuals, both sellers and buyers who persist in transacting business and residing in known flood prone areas.
We must discourage those who settle in dangerous zones and then expect the state to bail them out when nature takes its course, he indicated.
Questioning Governance Priorities:
Apostle Appiah did not stop at flood relief; he took the opportunity to critique the broader distribution of state funds.
He alleged that the government frequently divertsl funds away from environmental and social infrastructure toward projects of questionable necessity.
He pointed to the recent international football competitions where the government spent large sums of money to sponsor football fans to travel abroad.
According to him many of the state sponsored sports fans were capable of funding their own trips.
In his critique, he lauded an Accra based entrepreneur and social activist, A Plus, for publicly rejecting government sponsorship including hotel and travel expenses to watch a tournament abroad.
The conduct of individuals like A Plus is worthy of emulation, the Apostle remarked.
Taxpayers’ money should be spent judiciously for the common good.
The pastor further underscored that politicians need to prioritize the welfare of the people who voted them into power and the development of the country over frivolous expenditures.
A Challenge to Leadership:
The clergyman concluded his address with a stark caution to the administration.
He advised the government to refrain from investing state resources in ventures that allegedly provide no tangible benefit to the nation.
Instead he challenged policymakers to focus on essential projects that provide long term development, noting that such prudent management is what ultimately builds a legacy and earns the trust of the citizenry.
