The Government of Ghana has welcomed the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) decision to provide US$250,000 in humanitarian assistance to support victims of the devastating floods that struck parts of the country on 29 June.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed in a statement that ECOWAS had formally notified the Government of its decision to extend the financial assistance in response to the disaster, which affected thousands of residents across the country. The Ministry, which will receive the funds on behalf of the Government of Ghana, assured the public that the donation would be disbursed immediately upon receipt into its accounts.
The Ministry explained that making the notification public before the transfer of funds was consistent with the Government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to announce, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, that it has just been notified by ECOWAS that they have decided to donate US$250,000.00 (about GH¢3.00 million) to Ghana for victims of the recent devastating floods,” the statement read.
As a founding member of ECOWAS, Ghana is eligible to benefit from the regional bloc’s humanitarian assistance mechanisms, which are designed to support member states affected by natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies and other crises. The intervention reflects ECOWAS’ principle of regional solidarity, under which member states provide collective support to one another during periods of hardship.
The ECOWAS contribution of approximately GH¢3 million comes in addition to the Government’s domestic relief package. President John Dramani Mahama earlier directed the Ministry of Finance to release GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance emergency response, rehabilitation and recovery efforts following the disaster.
Of that amount, GH¢150 million was earmarked specifically for immediate humanitarian interventions, including emergency shelter, food assistance and other relief supplies for affected households.
The June 29 floods were among the deadliest to hit the capital in recent years. According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the disaster claimed 34 lives, displaced 38,802 people, and caused extensive destruction to homes, businesses and critical infrastructure across several communities in the Greater Accra Region. Torrential rains inundated major roads and residential areas, leaving thousands stranded and prompting large-scale rescue and evacuation operations.
According to the Ministry, ECOWAS’ financial assistance underscores the regional body’s commitment to supporting its member states during humanitarian crises. The funds are expected to complement ongoing relief operations, including the provision of temporary shelter, food, medical supplies and other essential services to affected communities, while reinforcing regional cooperation in disaster response and resilience.
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