Akufo-Addo can only declare a state of emergency upon advice from the Council of State – Dafeamekpor

South Dayi Member of Parliament, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamkpor has indicated that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo can only declare a state of emergency following the flood disaster that was occasioned by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam, only upon the advice from the Council of State.

He said the responsibility is on the Council of State to convene a meeting and assess the situation to advise the president appropriately.

Mr Dafeamekpor stated that if a state of emergency is declared, it will afford the president the power to deploy the army to go to the flood areas in the Volta Region to resolve the situation.

The president, he added, will be questioned by Parliament if he deploys the army when a state of emergency has not been declared, hence the Council of State must act swiftly.

“Under Section 31(1) [of the Constitution] the burden is actually on the Council of State. It is the Council of State that must convene and make that determination. It says the president may act in accordance with the advice of the council. The fire must be set by the Council of State. [The President] can tell them that [he] is in crisis so they should convene and make that determination and send him the resolution. Then, based on the resolution which will be the advice he may act in accordance with it.

“The benefit of a state of emergency is that the president can deploy thousands of soldiers to go to the grounds and work, he can deploy the 64 engineers to build new roads.

“If you don’t declare you can’t deploy the army in this matter because Parliament will ask you questions. The state of emergency must be declared because there are benefits to the country when we do that” he said on the Key Points on TV3 on Saturday, October 21.

Members of the Council of State

A professor at the University of Ghana Ransford Gyampo also said “If declaring a state of emergency will not cost us money, rather attract us money, let there be a swift action to declare so that we can benefit from all the interventions to alleviate the plight of the people.”

“If the IMF conditionalities do not forbid us then let us declare it,” he stressed.

Member of Parliament for Asante-Akim North Constituency, Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi also said ” I support it, the call is very welcomed and I want to believe that the president is considering this.”

Earlier, Former President John Dramani Mahama also told the president to declare a state of emergency in the areas affected by the flood.

Mr Mahama said it was clear that the scope and scale of the flooding of communities along the Volta River was bigger than “our crippled economy can bear.”

“I recommend to Government to declare a State of Emergency in the affected areas and request relief assistance from our bilateral and multilateral partners immediately,” he wrote on Facebook.

A Former Health Minister Alex Segbefia had also asked the president to declare a state of emergency. In his view, it would cause no disturbances if a state of emergency is declared.

“I don’t think there is any harm to declare a state of emergency,” he said on the Big Issue on TV3 Wednesday, October 18 after asking the government to prepare ahead of a possible health emergency.

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) also backed calls for a state of emergency. GNAT said the state of emergency would ensure public safety and maintenance of law and order.

Communities including Mepe and Battor in the North Tongu Constituency have been severely hit by the flood.

Spillage of water from the Akosombo dam is expected to continue until the excess inflows in the lake recede, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA).

GNAT in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 17 said it “equally backs the calls for a state of emergency to be declared in the affected areas, since the circumstances under which a state of emergency could be declared, whether natural or manmade disasters, is being experienced currently which is not only threatening the very existence of the people but also depriving the communities of essentials of life. The declaration of the emergency would secure public safety, maintenance of public order, and generate the supply of essential goods and services required by the communities.”

The statement added “We ask our teachers in the region to remain steadfast and calm and assure them of our utmost assistance to enable them to carry out their duties when the storm is over. Our learners are also not left out as we would make sure their dedication is neither disrupted nor thwarted for whatever reason.”

Likewise, the Assemblies of God Church also called for the declaration.

The Church believed that this would help in dealing with the “depressing ” situation.

Addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, October 17, the General Overseer of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Stephen Wengam said “The Assemblies of God Ghana fully backs calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the flood-affected areas, this will help the necessary humanitarian measures being undertaken to bring the depressing situation under control.”

He further urged all Ghanaians to support the government in bringing the situation under control.

“The sad reality is that government and government agencies alone cannot shoulder the huge burden of bringing relief and hope to the people due to the untold disaster. This is the time therefore for Ghanaians of all social backgrounds, financial standings, political affiliations, and extractions to rally to the aid of the suffering fathers, mothers, and children.

“Corporate Ghana and other benevolent bodies must also identify themselves with humanitarian efforts while counselors and psychologist also do their best.”

Following the flood situation, the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) warned of the outbreak of cholera in the areas.

To that end, the GMA wants the Ministry of Health to be part of the 13-member inter-ministerial committee that has been formed to assess the flood situation.

Speaking on the Ghana Tonight show on TV3 on Monday, October 16, Acting General Secretary of the GMA, Dr. Richard Selormey said “in our view as the GMA, in such an emergency, there is a big component that the health sector plays in the relief efforts.

“If you take this flooding for example, people have lost their livelihoods, people have been displaced from their homes, many don’t have access to basic amenities that they had before and therefore there’s a great risk for waterborne diseases, for various injuries because of floating objects, The outbreak of some conditions as cholera, typhoid, and even malaria because there is a pooling of water everywhere.

“There is a big problem of continuity of care because people who used to access health facilities have been cut off. We are aware that there are about three health centres that have been cut off by the floods. This, we think, makes a compelling case that the Ministry, not the person of the Minister per se, has a big role to play in these efforts and it is important that the Health Ministry is included in this inter-ministerial committee.”

The government formed the 13-member inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to address issues relating to the flood.

The members are Ministers of National Security, Interior, Defence, Energy, Finance, Local Government, Works and Housing, Roads and Highways, Environment, Sanitation, Lands and Natural Resources, and Information.

The committee was formed on the instruction of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, a statement issued by Information Minister Kojo Joopong Nkrumah on Friday, October 13 said.