We are ready for rainy season disasters - NADMO

Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), on Tuesday, assured Ghanaians that adequate measures are in place to manage disasters during the rainy season.

To this end, he said, NADMO had carried out a census of all those living around disaster prone areas and also identified a place where they could be evacuated to in emergency situations.

He said NADMO was currently training about 90 officers to help boost the rescue team capacity, and that, government had also approved some emergency rescue equipment to enable NADMO to perform its duties diligently during the rainy season.

Mr Portuphy was addressing the 3rd National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation on Tuesday in Accra.

The National Platform is to assess the progress made so far to reduce the vulnerability of communities and achieve sustainable development.

It also aims to identify challenges and to adapt better approach to community mobilisation and networking, to address disaster risk reduction goals through a coordinated participation and interactive process of stakeholders.

Mr Portuphy said Ghana had been ranked by the United Nations as one of the best countries on the African continent with good policies and programmes in disaster management.

He said NADMO had over the years performed its duties diligently under many challenges and with very limited resources.

Mr Portuphy called for a review of the NADMO Act, to provide the organisation a greater authority in dealing with the emerging challenges in disaster management in the country.

Mr Sulley Mahama, who spoke on behalf of the Ms Ruby Sandhu Rojon, UN Resident Coordinator, commended NADMO for its role in reducing disasters in the country.

He called on the NADMO, to forge and maintain effective working relationships and linkages with and among various government agencies, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations.

He pledged UN’s commitment to continue supporting NADMO’s activities to achieve sustainable development.