Accra Floods: Mahama to sack people or resign - MP

Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, Matthew Opoku Prempeh has called for the stepping down of President John Dramani Mahama before his tenure of office ends.

Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Napo, as the Manhyia South MP is affectionately called said the President should do the honourable thing by handing over power if he cannot sanction his appointees responsible for the safety of Ghanaians.

Addressing the grisly floods-induced fire incident that occurred Wednesday evening at the GOIL filling station near the GCB Towers, Hon. Opoku Prempeh held strongly that certain heads should begin to roll because the city authorities failed to effectively do their job.

He expressed disappointment in the city authorities, particularly the Mayor of Accra, Alfred Oko Vanderpuiye over the explosion that claimed hundreds of lives at Circle.

A fuel tanker at the GOIL filling station exploded when impacted by the heavy rains that caused floods at Circle.

The explosion killed over 150 people who were taking shelter around the area due to the floods.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Opoku Prempeh blamed President John Mahama for the bizarre moment.

According to him, the Mahama administration has solicited loans to construct drainage systems across the capital city but it appears the loans were not used for the right purposes.

The drains, he stated, have since been choked with some areas not having any drainage systems; hence causing major floods in the capital.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh wondered what the President's sod-cutting sought to achieve since the capital city still faces flood situations.

“I don’t blame anybody than the President...he should be responsible. Why shouldn’t it be the President? Didn’t he know there was no money before he went to cut the sod…Does it mean those who joined the President to cut the sod were deceiving Ghanaians? Are the handlers of the President leading the President astray?" he quizzed.

He also questioned the conferment of the title "Mayor of Mayors" on the Accra Mayor, Oko Vanderpuiye, when he failed to execute the job of ensuring that preventable floods do not occur.

“In any democratic matured civilized country, heads would roll…This issue is the height of irresponsibility…It’s not about the problem. It’s about the solution. We don’t elect people to talk about excuses. That’s why I’m saying in this particular issue, the President, if he doesn’t sack people should also be sacked.”