Member of Parliament for Dome Kwabenya Prof Mike Ocquaye and former Information and Tourism Minister Zita Okaikoi were embroiled in heated verbal exchanges over who has the power to distribute relief items. Dozens of residents have been left homeless after Tuesday’s heavy downpour caused havoc and have been looking forward to a peaceful distribution of relief items to ameliorate their pain. But that was not to be as MP for the area Prof Ocquaye and his closest rival in the 2008 elections Zita Okaikoi were engaged in war of words over who has the power to distribute the items. The MP confirmed the sad spectacle to Joy News but blamed his rival for instigating it. According to him, he personally requested for the relief items from the Interior Minister on Wednesday by providing a letter to that effect - a request the Minister obliged. He said he had arranged with NADMO officials to present the items on Thursday to the victims at a particular location, but to his surprise the former Tourism Minister showed up at the location and issued instructions to the NADMO officials to take the items to another location. He said when he questioned the action by Zita he was met with tantrum and threats from the former minister. He accused Zita Okaikoi of distributing the items to her party faithfuls. He said he had to live the scene to prevent an embarrassing situation from escalating. In her reaction, the former minister also blamed the MP for the incident. She said she was only present at the scene of distribution to help her people and to ensure transparency. According to her, Mike Ocquaye did a shoddy job by providing only 37 names to NADMO when the victims were far more. She said she was present to ensure that all the victims benefit from the items. Asked in what capacity she was presenting the items, she retorted, saying in what capacity did she go there to commiserate with the victims and in what capacity was she interviewed? She said she had to fight for the victims who supported her in 2008 at a time she was being stoned by the sitting MP and his people. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana