The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has expressed anger after discovering that relief items donated to victims of the Gbinyiri conflict in the Savannah region are locked up in warehouses belonging to the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba and Bole District Assemblies.

Director of NADMO in charge of man-made disasters, Maxwell Niber, described the situation as unacceptable.

"I'm really shocked hearing that some of the items have been locked up in facilities, and it will be part of the report I'll send to the Director-General," he said. "In matters of disaster, NADMO should lead the process to ensure that equipment and relief items reach the people to mitigate their suffering."

He questioned the logic behind hoarding donations, adding, "Why should people use their hard-earned money to procure items meant for victims, only for them to be locked up? The very purpose of donating is defeated."

The relief supplies were mobilised through a JoyNews campaign, with support from institutions including National Security, which provided 1,500 mattresses and 500 mosquito nets; Feed the Hunger, which donated 95 boxes of rice; the Green House, a Chinese company, which delivered a truckload of rice; and the Chinese community in Ghana, which contributed over 1,200 bags of rice and several other essential supplies.

But instead of reaching displaced families, many of the items remain in warehouses, while some have reportedly been found in private homes and unauthorised locations.

Efforts by JoyNews to seek explanations from local authorities have been met with little clarity. The DCE of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba, Saaka Sinitina, referred inquiries to the regional minister, while his counterpart in Bole, Mahmud Abdulai, insisted that partial distribution was ongoing.

NADMO has urged donors to channel all future relief efforts through its structures to prevent such setbacks.

Mr Niber stressed, "When items are sent to bodies other than NADMO, they don’t reach the people. The Director-General has repeatedly called on donors to work with NADMO directly."

Some donors have expressed shock and disappointment at the revelations. Allegations have also emerged that some relief supplies have been diverted for personal gain.

A broadcaster and manager of Nkilgi FM in Bole, Mahama Haruna, condemned the situation, saying
"How do 2,000 bags of rice meant for displaced victims end up in shops, barbering salons, and private homes? This isn’t mismanagement, it’s a betrayal of the suffering of those who lost everything. Posterity will judge us all."