Coronavirus: Take food distribution to homes – Alima Mahama directs NADMO

Local government Minister Hajia Alima Mahama has directed officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to take food aid to homes of the vulnerable instead of sharing them on streets.

The directive comes on the back of the public anger at how food distribution to the vulnerable in the wake of the coronavirus lockdown has been done.

Some Ghanaians have taken to social media to express concerns over the manner in which government is distributing food to the vulnerable in the lockdown areas. Videos on social media have shown crowds gather in queues for food and other items.

Speaking to Starr News Tuesday, Alima Mahama said there is the need to change strategy in the distribution of food.

“The state institutions like NADMO are to distribute the packages to the homes of those who need them. As much as possible, the distribution is to be done at the homes,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Coalition of NGOs in Health has appealed to government to make use of the social workers in its social intervention provisions in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in Ghana.

According to the chairman of the coalition, Gabriel Banaku, social workers will have better ways of managing social interventions and will not allow crowds to gather in the distribution of food.

“The social workers are not involved; they are not using them. There are some things happening that the social welfare people will not allow. This is not the time to see people with party colours sharing food and stuff,” he told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr.

Some Ghanaians have taken to social media to express concerns over the manner in which government is distributing food to the vulnerable in the lockdown areas. Videos on social media have shown crowds gather in queues for food and other items.