Kweku D.De Graft
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on Friday assured the public that adequate preparations are being made to manage disasters during the rainy season which has duly started.
Kweku D. De Graft, the Acting Director, Public Relations, NADMO, said throughout the year, NADMO has been carrying out adequate sensitisation programmes in flood prone areas of the country to educate the people on what to do to avoid floods and what to do during floods.
Speaking to Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on the downpour which hit Accra and its surrounding areas on Thursday night, Mr De Graft said his outfit was still monitoring the situation and that so far no incident had been reported from any community.
He said their operational standby teams were also in place to assist the public in case of any emergencies in the flood prone areas.
He mentioned some of the areas within the Accra – Tema Metropolis as the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, Awoshie, Darkuman, Dansoman, Santa Maria, Kokompe, Communities 18 and 20.
Mr De Graft however said disaster management was the responsibility of all Ghanaians.
He noted that the continuous dumping of refuse into open drains by some unscrupulous people was compounding the flood situation in the country.
He, therefore, urged the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to make sure that the storm drains were desilted to pave the way for the smooth flow of rainwater.
He also urged the various MMDAs to avoid the construction of open drains as part of efforts to curb the dumping of refuse into drains which hinder the free flow of water, especially during rainfall.
Mr De Graft also cautioned people against building in waterways, adding that people living in waterways and flood prone areas must move to higher grounds.
He advised people living in flood prone areas to take serious the warnings of the Ghana Metrological Agency that the nation would experience heavy rains this year.
He said NADMO intends to enhance the capacity of the society to prevent and manage disasters and improve the livelihood of the poor and the vulnerable in rural communities through effective disaster management, social mobilisation and employment generation.
Mr De Graft said over the years, NADMO had performed its duties diligently under difficult circumstances with very limited resources.
He said his outfit usually gives out relief items during disasters to mitigate the suffering of the people and called for donor assistance to assist potential victims.
GNA