Ghana records over 243,000 natural disasters in 2011

The Ghana National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) recorded 243,988 natural disasters which resulted in 14 deaths last year.

The disasters were floods, rainstorms and wind storms.

Of the 10 regions, the Volta Region recorded the highest number of disasters of 33,553.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Katey Dorgbey, the Director of the Hydrometrological Department of NADMO, said people were affected by the natural disasters because of the settlements they chose to live in.

“People build and farm in river channels where they are not supposed to do so and that is why people are affected when the rains come,” he said.

Mr Katey said it was, therefore, imperative for individuals to consider all the risk factors before constructing houses in specific areas.

He said currently NADMO was embarking on a national plan of action aimed at reducing disaster risk in the country.

Under the plan, NADMO would monitor disaster risk, mount a national platform and coordinate activities to achieve a comprehensive goal of disaster risk reduction in a manner that would not affect activities in the communities, he said.

NADMO has obtained excavators, water pumping machines, chainsaw machines and towing machines to embark on rescue operations in the event of any disaster.

A workshop was also recently held for stakeholders on effective ways of educating the public on the harmful effects of building in water-logged areas.

Mr Katey expressed the hope that disaster would reduce this year, since NADMO was putting contingency and preventive measures in place to avert the occurrence of disasters.

Source: Daily Graphic