Sam George Announces Livelihood Support For Ningo-Prampram Businesses Hit By June 29 Floods
The Member Of Parliament For Ningo-Prampram And Minister For Communication, Digital Technology And Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has announced plans to support businesses affected by the devastating June 29 floods, after providing emergency relief to thousands of displaced residents.
The MP said the next phase of the recovery effort will focus on helping flood victims rebuild their livelihoods rather than relying solely on humanitarian assistance.
“I Saw The Devastation Myself”
Speaking after distributing relief items to affected communities on Thursday, Mr. George said the emergency intervention became necessary after he witnessed the extent of destruction firsthand.
“Two Mondays ago, we were here in the aftermath of the rain. It was a sad sight. I saw for myself the devastation that had happened, and so we decided to quickly put together a few things. I spoke to a few friends who rallied around me, things that we could put together, and so we’ve come in to make an intervention in the communities,” he said.
Over 6,000 Residents Supported
According to the MP, about 12 communities within the constituency were affected by the floods, with *five recording the highest levels of destruction.
More than 6,000 residents were assisted during the relief distribution exercise. The breakdown includes:
– Lekpongunor: 1,200 beneficiaries
– Ahwiam: 1,200 beneficiaries
– Old Ningo: Nearly 1,700 beneficiaries
– Afienya: About 1,500 beneficiaries
– Dawhenya: Almost 1,000 beneficiaries
Mr. George explained that while his office handled the five major communities, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) was tasked with distributing relief to seven other affected communities with smaller populations.
“So NADMO has sent in some stuff, and I’ve asked that the NADMO coordinator distribute those in the seven communities where the numbers are less, and then we will handle the main communities. It’s basically a way of supporting them,” he noted.
Relief Package Included Food and Essentials
The relief package distributed included about 850 bags of rice, roughly 250 cartons of cooking oil, tinned tomatoes, mackerel, Milo, sugar, Lipton tea, milk and other essential supplies.
“We’re doing about 850 bags of rice, about 250 cartons of oil, tinned tomatoes, mackerel, Milo, sugar, Lipton, milk. It’s quite substantial, the resources that have gone in here*,” the Minister stated.
Focus Shifts To Livelihood Recovery
Despite the scale of the relief effort, Mr. George stressed that long-term recovery must go beyond food distribution.
“The next phase for me will not be to continue that. It’s to begin to look at my next edition of the MP’s Livelihood Empowerment Programme, which is something I do,” he said.
He revealed that 167 people were supported to establish businesses under the initiative last year. This year, he said, priority will be given to residents whose businesses were destroyed by the floods.
“Hopefully, we will assist a number of people whose businesses have been affected by this flood under that initiative, giving them something to help them start their businesses again. For me, ultimately, it’s not about handing them bags of rice and oil; it’s about equipping them to earn a living again because they were living their own lives. They weren’t depending on me for rice and oil before this happened to them,” he added.
Call For Sustainable Recovery
The MP said the Livelihood Empowerment Programme will provide start-up support, tools, and capital to affected traders, artisans, and small business owners to help them bounce back.
Community leaders in Ningo-Prampram have welcomed the announcement, saying restoring livelihoods will be key to helping families recover with dignity after losing homes, goods, and equipment to the floods.
Government and NADMO continue to assess the full impact of the June 29 rains across Greater Accra, with calls for improved drainage and flood mitigation measures in vulnerable coastal communities.
