Northern Region Disaster Management Committee inaugurated

Tamale, Nov 26, GNA - A Northern Regional Disaster Management Committee was on Wednesday inaugurated in Tamale to assist the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to effectively manage disasters and emergencies in the region.

Mr Ernest Debrah, the Regional Minister, is the Chairman of the six-member committee selected from the military, police, health, information and environment sectors.

Mr Debrah said the committee was very relevant since the region was prone to disasters, many of which were the result of conflicts with their attendant loss of lives and property, as well as human suffering.

He said the committee has a Herculean task to grapple with saying, "even though every region in the country has its share of conflicts, conflicts in the Northern Region are very difficult to resolve..."

Mr Debrah said the members of the committee were well endowed to handle the responsibility entrusted to them but "we will be judged by society on our ability to effectively educate the people on what to do before, during and after a disaster strikes".

He said: "If we are able to deliver, we will earn the recognition of society and I therefore urge all of us to be committed to the task ahead".

Alhaji Sulemana Yiremea, NADMO Deputy National Co-ordinator in-charge of Relief and Reconstruction, said management of disasters requires the inter-sector approach if any meaningful results are to be achieved.

Explaining the rationale behind the restructuring of NADMO, Alhaji Yiremea said the exercise was to enable the organisation to manage disasters and similar emergencies more effectively adding, "the restructuring has brought about a new organisation with a new vision".

He said: "The new vision of NADMO lays emphasis on disaster management, employment generation and poverty reduction".

Alhaji Yiremaa said NADMO would now focus on preventive aspects of disaster as a means of reducing the effect on society.

On employment and poverty reduction, he said NADMO would mobilise volunteer clubs to assist in fighting disasters.

"This will go hand-in hand with motivational packages to aid them in their various economic activities, especially in the area of agriculture".

"We intend to engage them specifically in farming, tree planting, environmental hygiene and HIV/AIDS prevention", he said.

Alhaji Mahamoud Alhassan, Northern Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, said the Regional Secretariat was beset with numerous challenges, among which are the lacks of proper district and zone offices, inadequate funding, transport and office equipment.

"The region is replete with conflicts with all the risks associated with them, yet we work without risk allowances and any good working conditions. "I wish therefore to passionately appeal to our management to consider addressing these challenges to motivate us to give of our best", he said.