Takoradi MP Backs Dafeamekpor’s Flood Relief Call, Demands Urgent Completion of Takoradi Market

Member of Parliament for Takoradi, Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has thrown his weight behind Majority Chief Whip Hon. Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor’s call for a minimum GH¢500 million per constituency from the proposed flood relief fund, and has urged government to urgently complete the Takoradi Market.

Contributing to a statement in Parliament, Hon. Darko-Mensah said floods have been “a major disaster” for many constituencies, with the Western Region particularly hard hit. “For those of us in the western region especially Takoradi, Sekondi, flood are taking place even before the Accra and therefore when it comes to the effect of floods on our market to men it has affected virtually all of us,” he stated.

On relief allocation, he supported the proposed baseline: “I also do believe that as the government has promised to issue some contingency funding of about three hundred million I believe that there should be a baseline.

In fact, every Ghanian community, every constituency should get a minimum of about five hundred uh million of that money and the rest can then be shared based on the quantum and the uh the intensity of the problem.”

The Takoradi MP made a direct appeal for the completion of the Takoradi Market, which he said has been under construction for some time.

He noted that President Mahama had promised to ensure its completion, but “under Nana Addo we did about 82% of the work. So far the president has not put in any extra money to get this project completed.”

According to him, traders displaced by the stalled project have suffered “severe economic hardship over this long period,” even as attention is now being given to those affected by recent floods. “I'm also using this opportunity to pledge and ask the president that without fame, he should come to Takoradi and come and complete the market circle because all the agreements have been done and we know that when it puts in a little effort the rest the eighteen percent that is left can be completed,” he said.

Hon. Darko-Mensah also urged fellow MPs to rally behind the effort: “I believe that all members of parliament should be with Takoradi to in our proving and then uh supporting uh honorable chief mate majority chief mate, you also support the completion of the Takoradi market immediately because it's one of the iconic markets this country has ever had over the long period of time and it's in the Harbour city.”