Dr. DaCosta Aboagye Urges Mahama to Declare National Mourning for Flood Victims
“Every Ghanaian Life is Precious,” says former NHIA boss as death toll from June 29 floods rises
Former National Health Insurance Authority CEO Dr. DaCosta Aboagye is urging President John Dramani Mahama to declare a period of national mourning for Ghanaians killed in the June 29 floods, arguing that their deaths deserve the same public recognition given to victims of the recent military helicopter crash.
In a statement issued Friday, Dr. Aboagye said more than 37 people reportedly died after torrential rains submerged communities across Accra and other parts of the country.
“The blood of the 37-plus lives lost… cries out for remembrance”
He said silence in the face of the tragedy would suggest that some lives count less than others.
“We cannot behave as though the vulnerable souls who perished had no blood in their veins,” Dr. Aboagye stated. “Their lives mattered just as much as those of the distinguished heroes we mourned after the helicopter crash.”
Addressing the President directly, he added: “Mr. President, we respectfully appeal to you to declare a state of mourning in honour of the souls lost in the floods. Every Ghanaian life is precious, and every life deserves equal dignity, recognition and remembrance.”
Criticism of Government Response
Dr. Aboagye also faulted the current administration’s handling of the disaster, claiming not enough has been done to support bereaved families and communities still picking up the pieces.
The floods on June 29 left dozens dead, displaced hundreds, and destroyed homes, roads and property, reigniting calls for urgent investment in drainage systems and disaster preparedness.
Bawumia Delivers Relief to Flood-Affected Areas
As calls for state action grow, NPP flagbearer Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has also weighed in. Following a tour of some of the worst-hit neighborhoods in Accra, relief items were delivered to victims on his behalf by his Advisor on Gender and Social Protection, Akosua Asaa Manu.
During the visit, Dr. Bawumia met with displaced residents, expressed sympathy, and assessed damage to homes and infrastructure.
Renewed Pressure for Flood Prevention
With the rainy season ongoing, civil society groups and political figures are pushing for stronger flood mitigation measures, better drainage, and a more coordinated disaster response system to prevent a repeat of the June 29 tragedy.
