Relief food suspected to be unwholesome

Enchi (W/R), Aug 19, GNA - About 100 bags of rice supplied by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) for distribution to recent flood victims in the Aowin-Suaman District is suspected to be unwholesome.

Mr. Ellis Duncan Famiyeh, District Coordinator of NADMO, confirmed this to the Ghana News Agency following complaints from some of the affected people that the rice had bad smell and looked too mouldy for human consumption.

He said the committee established by the district assembly to receive and distribute relief items to the 7,811 affected people from about 10 communities had already taken delivery and distributed two consignments of rice, blankets and other relief items to the victims. Mr. Famiyeh said the third consignment of 100 bags that was recently supplied by the Western Regional Office of NADMO for distribution to the victims and suspected to be unwholesome is yet to be distributed.

He said members of the committee would conduct thorough investigation to ascertain its wholesomeness or otherwise before it takes a decision.

Mr. Famiyeh denied allegations that distribution of relief items were being done on party lines and said so far blankets and other items that were supplied were insufficient to go round. He gave the assurance that the committee, which has the representations from all the communities, would be fair in its operations.

About 582 houses in 10 communities in the Suaman constituency were destroyed following three days of torrential rains three weeks ago.