Mfantseman marks World Disaster Reduction Day

Abeadze Dominase (C/R), Oct. 13, GNA - Mr Ofori John Tulasi, Assistant Research Officer at the Mfantseman District Secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education has stated that disasters should not be viewed in terms of rainstorms, fire outbreak or floods alone, but also the violation of fundamental human rights and the rule of law. He said to reduce the incidence of disasters there was the need to respect the rule of law.

He was addressing a durbar organised by Mfantseman District Secretariat of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) at Abeadze Dominase to mark World Disaster Reduction Day. Mr Tulasi said when laws were not obeyed or implemented; the principle of the rule of law became endangered and served as recipe for disaster.

The theme for the celebration was: "Living with Risks": Turning the tide on disaster for sustainable development.

Mr S. O. Adabo, District Fire Officer, urged Ghanaians to make room for easy movement of fire tenders when putting up their houses. He said haphazard citing of buildings impeded their efforts to fight fires promptly.

Mr Adabo appealed to district assemblies to enforce laws enjoining people who want to put up buildings to submit their plans to Fire Service personnel for advice.

Mr Ignatius Gyesi, an official of the Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health cautioned farmers against cultivating lands along riverbanks.

Mr J.K. Kuntoh, Central Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer said the organisation was being restructured to depart from the days when they waited for disasters to occur before going in with relief items to concentrating on prevention.

He said rapid response personnel were being trained to move swiftly to mitigate disasters when they occurred.

Nana Nyanful Obrenu VIII, Twafohene of the Abeadze Traditional Area expressed concern about waste management and pollution of rivers and urged district assemblies to help find a solution to the problem. Alhaji Abu-Saddiq Abban, District NADMO Co-ordinator urged Ghanaians to be each other's keeper by refraining from activities which could endanger the lives of their neighbours.

He cautioned against indiscriminate littering of the environment and appealed to Ghanaians to plant trees to serve as wind breaks in their communities.