Minister of Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says persons making allegations about favouritism in the distribution of food to the vulnerable in these partial lockdown period must be made to validate them.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Klottey Korley Constituency Dr Zanetor Rawlings expressed disgust at the distribution of food to the vulnerable on Tuesday, alleging that it is being done on a partisan basis.
“In spite of the government saying [kayaye] are being fed, these people are not getting food,” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP fumed.
“And the unfortunate thing that is happening is that people are using partisanship to distribute food. This is a humanitarian crisis.”
But speaking in an interview on Covid-19 360 on TV3 on Wednesday, Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is also MP for Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency, said the allegation “sounds a bit strange to the ears”.
He said the evidence out there – which everybody has been talking about – is how challenged the food distributors are in observing social distancing.
Therefore, an allegation that distribution of food is on a partisan basis needs more probing, he said.
“The evidence that we are seeing at first glance makes it difficult to take that allegation hook, line and sinker.”
Already, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is said to have also flatly rejected Dr Zanetor’s allegations, in a statement yet to be sighted by 3news.com.
The Ministry in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is distributing hot meals to about 400,000 homeless citizens in the locked down areas of Accra, Kumasi, Kasoa and Tema.
Other philanthropic organisations are also complementing government’s efforts in feeding thousands.
But there has been concerns about the procedure of distribution as the key protocol of social distancing is not being observed at most distribution points.
But Mr Oppong Nkrumah admitted that a meeting was held by key government officials to ensure that all persons helping in distribution of food must do so not at the risk of the vulnerable.
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana