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The Minority in Parliament has called for three government ministers to appear before the House to address a range of issues it says have sparked significant public concern, including recent flooding in Accra, the repatriation of Ghanaians from South Africa, and visa-related difficulties linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The ministers being requested to brief Parliament are the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei; and the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams.
The demand was made on June 9 during deliberations on the Business Statement for the upcoming parliamentary week, with Minority members expressing concern that the ministers had not been scheduled to brief the House on matters they described as being of national importance.
The First Deputy Minority Whip and Member of Parliament for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu, questioned the absence of both the Foreign Affairs and Sports Ministers from the parliamentary agenda despite growing public discussion surrounding the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa and reports of visa challenges affecting individuals hoping to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mr Iddrisu argued that Parliament has a constitutional duty to hold the Executive accountable, particularly on issues that have generated widespread public interest and raised concerns about government policies and their implementation.
He noted that with the World Cup set to begin in less than 48 hours, lawmakers should be given a comprehensive update on visa-related challenges and measures being taken to assist affected citizens.
The Minority Whip also called for a briefing on the circumstances surrounding the recent repatriation of Ghanaian nationals from South Africa amid reports of xenophobic attacks and security concerns affecting some foreign communities.
Attention was also drawn to the recent flooding that affected several communities in the Greater Accra Region following heavy rains over the weekend.
The Member of Parliament for Effia, Isaac Nyarko Boamah, urged Parliament to summon the Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister to explain what measures are being implemented to address the country’s recurring flood challenges.
According to him, the annual flooding continues to expose deficiencies in drainage infrastructure and urban planning, leading to property destruction, displacement of residents and disruptions to economic activities.
Mr Boamah maintained that Parliament must be furnished with a detailed report on government interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of flooding, particularly as Ghana enters the peak of the rainy season.
Recent heavy rains left several roads submerged, caused severe traffic congestion across parts of Accra and reignited calls for sustainable, long-term solutions to the capital’s persistent flooding problem.
Source: Omanghana.com
