Following the Government's announcement that an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) would be set up to handle and manage disasters in the country, a Committee has been set up by the Minister for Defence, Dr. Addo-Kufuor to work out the modalities for its establishment.
A press release from the Public Relations Directorate of the Ghana Armed Forces said the Committee, which has the Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Edward Martey Akita as chairman, is tasked to examine the resources in personnel and equipment for the formation of the nucleus of the ERU. The Committee will also ensure that the ERU is extended to all the regions and districts of the country.
The ERU will comprise doctors, nurses and paramedics with additional specialists in parachuting, seamanship, fire fighting and diving, so as to be able to handle road, rail and aviation accidents, well as chemical oil spillage, pollution, ethnic/tribal conflicts, floods, earthquakes, disasters in sports, etc.
Additionally, the Committee will be expected to liaise with the St. John's Ambulance Brigade to draw up training programmes for the personnel who will be engaged in the management of disaster activities in the country.
The ERU will also involve the Cadet Corps in the various Secondary Schools in the country in the disaster management training and invite other relevant disaster agencies to assist.
