Flood victims gathered in batches by households accompanied by their belongings of foam mattresses’ and ‘Ghana Must Go’ bags littered the Siaka Stevens Stadium main gate driveway that leads to the main bowl.
While the gathering at the entrance of the Presidential Lounge seemed more or less like an organized confusion. There was an ongoing meeting at the Operations Centre, whilst workers from the Social Welfare Ministry attempted to verify registration cards from a queue of victims.
The scene at the Siaka Stevens was like a news clip of refugees in a deplorable camp, with helpless looking faces of toddlers and the aged, amidst chaos, stench and fleas.
A 3yrs old girl, was standing with waterish, greenish looking defecation streaming down the only pampas she was wearing, as flies whizzed around her. Scenes like these are not unusual at both the Siaka Stevens and Attuoga stadia where flood victims had sought refuge for over 62 days now.
However, Sunday 15th November had been the slated date by the government to remove all flood victims from both stadia and relocate them to a temporary makeshift structure at 4 mile. The Social Welfare Ministry also provided compensation packages for those who refused to relocate.
Notwithstanding the initial common understanding between the authorities and the victims on the issue of relocation and compensation, on Sunday there were dissatisfactions between both parties as they sought to actualize this arrangement.
There were accusations and counter accusations as authorities were accusing victims of fraud, while victims on the other hand were accusing the authorities of corruption.
Fanta Kamara a worker at the Social Welfare Ministry said that most of those who are given compensation packages are not being honest. She explained that the head of each household is given a bag of rice and relief items after verification, adding that for some of the victims after collecting their packages another person from the same household would come and pose as the head of the household so as to collect another set of items.
Meanwhile some of the victims are displeased with the relocation process.
One of the victims Janet Kargbo explained, “up till now they have not called us yet only few names were called. The reason why some of us can’t go back to our community is because we don’t have anywhere to sleep. Some of our landlords have rented where we used to stay before the flood.
Madam Kargbo said, the authorities informed them that the relocation spot is not enough for all the victims; hence they [the victims] must find their own place to stay. However, those in charge have told us to wait. “That is why we are waiting to listen to what they have to say,” she said.
Another victim who claimed to be a Task Force Officer at the All Peoples Congress (APC) Party Office, Santigie Koroma explained that he had filled the Social Welfare form but unfortunately he was not around when the verification cards were distributed, therefore his household is not entitled to any benefit and this has made him extremely angry.
The Pillar Lead, Registration, Verification and Needs Assessment Officer, Saio Marrah explained that there are spaces enough for all those who have agreed to relocate. He also explained that some of the victims, are demanding they would only relocate after proper structures are erected at the site.
Saio revealed that those who would not be relocating are provided with a bag of rice, relief items and Le. 400,000 (per household), which is due tomorrow.
The Needs Assessment officer said that there are enough logistics and transportation for the relocation process noting that because the process is being done systematically that is why some victims who don’t want to exercise patience are complaining.
By Ophinel Gooding
Tuesday November 17, 2015
ADVERTISEMENT