Attitudinal change to prevent disasters – NADMO Director

Mr Evans Anakwa, the Greater Accra National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Hydro Director, has called for attitudinal change from the public to reduce the incidence of disasters in the society.

Mr Anakwa said this during a sensitization programme organized by the Ablekuma North Municipal NADMO secretariat in collaboration with the Dansoman Divisional Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

The event was held to create awareness amongst artisans, hairdressers, oil marketing companies, traders, opinion leaders and shop owners at Nyamekye in Accra.

Mr Anakwa said it is regrettable that about 80 per cent of floods and fire outbreaks in Accra were manmade.

He said anytime there is a downpour many areas easily get flooded due to the dumping of garbage in drains, construction of buildings in water ways and littering on the streets.

Mr Anakwa urged the public to report anyone found to be putting any structure in a waterway to the nearest NADMO office.

He called for the formation of Disaster Volunteer Groups (DVGS) in all communities so that volunteers would help monitor the activities of people in the area.

He also urged households, shops and lorry stations to have dustbins at appropriate places to help prevent the dumping of refuse into drains and littering on the streets.

Mr. Kwaku Duah, the Ablekuman North Municipal Director of NADMO, said it is most unfortunate that fire outbreaks in the society are still rampant.

He cited the horrible fire outbreak at Dansoman which claimed the lives of five persons a few month ago, the Awoshie fire disaster in which a pregnant woman perished with her daughter getting serious burns who was still on admission at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital burns centre; the destruction of a 20-bedroom house at Odorkor-Tsuim; and the destruction by fire of a house at Nyamekye recently.

He said the programme was the third in the series of educational programmes lined up by his outfit since the inauguration of the municipal assembly about nine months ago.