Disaster volunteers go into agriculture

Mepom (E/R), Oct. 21, GNA - Five Disaster Volunteer Groups in the West Akyem District have embarked on agricultural production to generate income, the District Co-ordinator for the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr David Apetsi, on Monday announced.

Speaking at the District's celebration of the World Day of Disaster Reduction at Mepom, on Monday, Mr Apetsi said the groups had been given seed money of two million cedis each for their venture.

He said the groups had been supplied with Wellington boots as part of the NADMO's programme to check the youth from drifting from the rural to the urban areas in fruitless search for non-existing jobs. Mr Apetsi said the volunteer groups were formed at Kakoase, Mepom, Breman, Pabi and Kwao Baah.

The District Co-ordinator said under a programme of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, planting seeds for maize and vegetables had been received and were being distributed to the groups.

Mr Apetsi said NADMO was working with other government institutions to curb the rate of disaster in the district.

The Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Seth Ahyia, explained that there were two types of disasters - natural and man-induced, adding that if people would exercise care, quite a number of the man-made disasters could be avoided.

Mr Ahyia said for instance, if chain-saw operators depleted forests, streams could dry up and if smokers and palm wine tappers did not kill their fires; they could cause widespread bush fires.

He called on chiefs to release lands to disaster volunteer groups to generate income to cater for themselves and their families. Mr Henry Gogovi, a Fire Officer, said fire volunteers were being trained in communities as "front-line" fire fighters and also to sensitise the people on how to avoid domestic and bush fires.

He called for proper planning of towns and villages to make fire fighting easier for the fighters to easily gain access to houses on fire.

Mr Kwaku Adu-Amankwaa, District Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) said intolerance, be it religious, ethnic or political, could generate into violence, which could end in disaster.

Detective Police Inspector J. F. Idan, advised the people to form neighbourhood watch committees to fight crime in their communities. He also called on drivers to drive with due care and attention to avoid accidents.

Earlier, 300 tree-seedlings were planted along the main road and other strategic points in the township.