Spearhead disaster risks reduction interventions – Minister
Alhaji Limuna Mohammed–Muniru, Upper East Regional Minister, has appealed to individuals and organizations to take full responsibility in spearheading interventions in disaster risks reduction in the country.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said disaster occurrences and recent floods that affected some parts of the country had compounded the already existing vulnerabilities of areas that were mostly affected.
He therefore called on all Ghanaians and stakeholders to work towards medium and long-term coping strategies in addressing disaster related issues in the country.
The minister said this when he addressed a forum on Wednesday on disaster risk reduction for most areas severely affected by floods in the upper East Region.
The forum was organised by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with the Talensi Area Development Programme (ADP) of World Vision International (WVI) under the theme ”Awareness creation among key stakeholders- A collaborative effort between NADMO and World Vision International-Talensi ADP”.
The Minister said human security had become increasingly important as it touched on people’s survival, livelihood and dignity and therefore needed a concerted effort to champion the management and reduction of disasters.
He appealed to stakeholders championing disaster risk interventions to go beyond delivery of humanitarian support to ensuring that vulnerable communities were involved in the planning and execution of activities.
He commended NADMO and WVI for the team spirit to improve upon service delivery and expressed the hope that such collaborations would help stakeholders adopt corrective measures where needed to improve on their services.
Mr Alfred Saawuug, Regional Coordinator of NADMO, said awareness creation and disaster risk communication was needed to enhance the people’s knowledge about risks connected to disasters in order to help communities make informed decisions about disaster risk reduction.
He said disasters impacted negatively on people, many of which resulted in loss of lives and property and added that the 2007 floods which claimed 34 lives in the Northern Region, and 14 lives lost in 2010 in the upper East region were no exception.
Mr Saawuug thanked WVI-Talensi for supporting NADMO with resources to successfully organise the programme.
Mr Aaron Bundi Aduna, an official of the Water Resources Commission in charge of the White Volta Basin, said changes in water availability and reliability on rainfall effects of climate change had negative impact on water resource management and a repercussion on achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He therefore called on traditional authorities, Municipal and District Assemblies to influence communities against exploitation of water bodies.
Source: GNA