Ghanaians get ready to manage disasters

Cape Coast (Central Region) 15 Oct. '98 Demonstrations on how to extinguish raging fire and rescue techniques by officials of the Ghana National Fire Service marked this year's world natural disaster reduction day celebration in Cape Coast.

The day organised jointly by the central regional disaster management committee in conjunction with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was aimed at educating the public on the increasing number of natural disasters, how they affect human life, property and the environment and their prevention.

Mr George Hughes, divisional officer of the GNFS appealed to the public to stop misusing the fire emergency line.

He recalled instances where people called the GNFS only to report that their hair or bathrooms were burning and stressed that such behaviour would not help the public in any way. Mr Hughes repeated the call on drivers to stop using sirens and to give way to fire tenders upon hearing the siren.

Mr Kwadzo Osei, regional co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) said between March and June this year, 950 houses were destroyed through natural disasters in the region and called on Ghanaians to re-examine their building technologies and to design houses that could withstand such disasters.

The Regional Fire Officer, Mr Brown Acquaye, called on the public to feel free to walk into the offices of the service for clarification and explanation of issues at any time. GRi