By Victoria Agyemang
Cape Coast, July 18, GNA- The Central Region Office of the National Management Organisation (NADMO) has inaugurated a Regional Disaster Management Committee to help reduce disaster risks, ensure community resilience and enhance disaster management efforts.
The 18-member committee, chaired by the Central Regional Minister, Mr Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah, was instituted in line with Ghana’s legal and institutional framework for disaster risk management, reduction and mitigation.
The move is a step towards proactive, coordinated, and community-centred disaster management in the Region.
It is also aimed at managing disasters by coordinating resources, promoting disaster rush reduction activities, and enhancing community-based response mechanisms to reduce disasters.
The event coincided with the launch of a 24 Member Committee to spearhead disaster risk reduction and climate change management platform.
The event, witnessed by high profiled personalities, was not just a ceremonial occasion but a signal of shared commitment to safeguarding the lives and livelihoods, and encouraging the people to eschew acts that trigger preventable disasters.
Mr Emmanuel Kwesi Dawood, the Central Regional Director of NADMO, in his remarks, explained the urgent need for the committee to mitigate risks with the current situation in the Region.
He mentioned that the Region with diverse topography and rich coastal and riverine ecosystem was facing threats of natural and human induced disasters which needed urgent attention and measures for reduction.
He recalled the recent collapse of buildings within some communities in the Region and increased fire outbreaks among other incidents as reasons for swift interventions.
About 18 of the 22 Metropolitan Municipal, District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Region, have so far recorded different disasters with casualties including loss of lives and property.
“These are not just incidents, they are warnings” of looming threats of disasters he stated and reminded all stakeholders that the management of disasters must never be reactive, but strategic, inclusive, and well coordinated.
Mr Dawood pointed out that the Committee was to localise its mission which went beyond policy documents to practical impact across the 22 MMDAs.
He urged them to become a platform for trust, data-sharing, training, simulation, and action embedded with disaster risk reduction in every sector from communities and workplaces to education, health and infrastructure.
The Committee was tasked to ensure equity, transparency, and accountability to reach the most vulnerable in the communities.
For his part, Mr Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere, chairman of the Committee, called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate to make the Region safe, resilient and prepared for the future.
Members of the Committee include Mr Dawood, Daasebre Kweebu Ewusi VII, Paramount Chief of Abeadze State and Mr Bless Darkey, Acting Regional Coordinating Director.
The others are, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Mary Attigah Mensah, Regional Commander of GNFS, Representatives from the Ghana Health Service, Social Welfare, Information Services Department and others.
GNA
Edited by Alice Tettey/Christian Akorlie