By Patience Gbeze/Edward Dankwah
Accra, March 6, GNA-Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, the Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has reaffirmed the organisationâs commitment to prioritising disaster prevention and preparedness as part of efforts to minimise flooding ahead of the rainy season in Accra.
Speaking during a tour of flood flashpoints in the capital, Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon said the exercise formed part of ongoing inspections to assess progress made on interventions introduced after similar visits last year, including one undertaken with the President.
He explained that since that visit, NADMO had continued to work closely with stakeholders and local authorities to address flooding challenges and ensure the country was adequately prepared before the onset of the rains.
According to him, his administrationâs focus was beyond responding to disasters, stressing that effective disaster management began with prevention and preparedness.
He said the organisation had been working behind the scenes through its inspectorate and operations departments in collaboration with district authorities and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to address identified flood flashpoints and ensure drains were cleared to allow the free flow of water during heavy rains.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon noted that the inspection tour was necessary to verify work carried out on the ground and compare the current situation with what was observed during last yearâs visits.
On the condition of a drain near the Gh Media School, he said significant improvements had been made since the last inspection, explaining that broken concrete bands and missing slabs that previously contributed to flooding had now been reconstructed.
âOnly finishing works remain, including leveling the fillings to create buffers that would allow rainwater to flow more easily,â he added.
The inspection team also visited other areas including the Ga East Municipality and the Kpeshie Lagoon as part of broader efforts to evaluate ongoing flood prevention works.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon said demolition exercises and drain clearing activities had already been undertaken in several flood-prone communities, including areas around Okaikwei North Municipal Assembly, where previous flooding incidents had claimed lives.
He said the condition of some drains compared to last year showed significant improvement and offered hope that ongoing interventions would help prevent similar disasters.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon noted that demolition works at the Kpeshie Lagoon area were being followed by continuous clearing of debris to prevent encroachment, unlike previous exercises where demolished areas were left unattended and reoccupied.
However, he indicated that progress had been slowed by limited logistics, explaining that although equipment under the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) was available, it was insufficient to complete the work within a short time.
The Director-General appealed for additional logistical and financial support, including excavators, bulldozers, pay loaders and tipper trucks, to accelerate debris removal and dredging activities.
âFlood prevention requires collective responsibility, hence the need for institutions and individuals to support the ongoing efforts to make communities safer,â he added.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Kuyon warned that more demolition exercises would be carried out in the coming days to remove illegal structures along waterways, stressing that authorities would enforce the law to prevent people from rebuilding in restricted areas.
Mr. Alfredos Nii Anyetei, Municipal Chief Executive, La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, said disasters do not discriminate against tribes, communities or groups of people, therefore, collective action was required to prevent them.
âThe intervention by NADMO to remove illegal structures and address the silting of waterways is a necessary step that deserves public support,â he added.
He said supporting these actions was also a demonstration of cooperation with government initiatives aimed at safeguarding communities and advancing the national development agenda.
The MCE stressed that the Assembly was committed to preventing encroachment, clearing the lagoon area and restoring it to serve its ecological purpose.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benam