Accra, Oct. 8, GNA - The Minister of the Interior, Mr Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, on Wednesday warned recalcitrant officials of Government institutions involved in unlawful re-design and sale of the Batsonaa Buffer Zone Lands.
The land was earmarked for roads and industrial establishments but had been re-designed and sold to individuals for residential purposes. Mr Owusu-Agyemang observed that portions of the land had been allocated to people and they had started putting up residential buildings and, therefore, directed the Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA) to investigate and make recommendations for further action.
The Interior Minister was addressing a press conference to mark this year's World Disaster Reduction Day, being celebrated under the theme: "Turning The Tide On Disasters Towards Sustainable Development" in Accra.
The Minister said information available indicated that the original owners of the Batsonaa Lands, with the assistance of some recalcitrant officials of Government institutions were involved in the re-design and re-allocation of the plots.
"I was told that the original owners now think the land they gave out for the roads and industrial establishments was too large so they secretly sought the assistance of some Government officials to re-design the area to enable them to sell portions of the land to individuals," he said.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang said such irresponsible behaviour did not only create a situation for disaster in the future but was also criminal and warned that the Ministry would deal with the officials and people involved at the appropriate time.
He noted that what was happening at Batsonaa was a reflection of what happened across the entire nation, indicative of the fact that the laws and regulations on disaster management were only known for their violation and not for compliance.
Mr Owusu-Agyemang, who is also the Chairman of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), announced that efforts were underway to amend the NADMO Act 517, to enable NADMO to operate under a legislation, to influence all developmental projects from their planning stage to ensure that disaster prevention measures were adhered to.
He said the new law was expected to come into force next year.
The Minister said disaster management was the collective responsibility of Government, NGOs and the citizenry, adding, " whilst Government has contingency measures to address the consequences, natural disasters like earthquake and lightning, the people must endeavour to play their role in preventing man-made disaster such as bush fires".
Mr Owusu-Agyemang said it was common knowledge that most flood situations in the country were due to irresponsible construction of buildings in waterways and urged those involved to consider the interest of other citizens and the wellbeing of the nation and desist from such acts.
"Disaster, whether natural or man-made has grave socio-economic consequences which puts a heavy burden on the country's meagre resources," he said.
"I would, therefore, urge corporate bodies, insurance companies, NGOs and multi-lateral organisation to come to the aid of the NADMO in times of disaster to ease the burden disasters put on the national budget," he said.
Busumuru Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, in a speech read on his behalf, noted that 90 per cent of disasters were water-related resulting from too much of it in the case of floods or too little of it in drought or the way they are discharged in typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes, He said natural hazards were part of life but they only become disaster when people's lives and livelihoods were swept away, adding that the vulnerability of communities was growing due to human activities that led to increased poverty, greater urban density, environmental degradation and climate change.
"It is well within our power as a people to do something about the disaster facing the world," Busumuru Annan said, and suggested that better decision-making, improved planning, effective risk management, innovation in development and environmental protection activities, were key to reducing disasters.
The World Disaster Reduction Day is celebrated in October with a number of activities being organised by the NADMO. 08 Oct.03
