Relocate, NADMO directs (Front Page)

OFFICIALS of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Greater Accra Region have directed residents of flood-prone areas in the region to relocate and avoid another tragedy during the pending rains.
They also advised that all valuable items kept in those areas should be moved for safe-keeping in preparedness for any eventuality.
The Greater Accra Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Winfred Nomotey Tesia, who led some officials on an inspection tour of parts of the Accra metropolis at the weekend, said although the organisation had made preparations to assist in times of disaster, people should not take chances, since it could not operate beyond what was humanly possible.
The areas identified as flood-prone are parts of Sakaman, Flamingo at Mataheko, Kaneshie Mpamprom, Awoshie along the Lafa River, Odorkor Sahara Hotel area, low lying areas at Mallam and Weija, as well as the Transformer Junction Down at Nii Boye Town.
Others are the Christian Methodist Senior High School at Asylum Down and its environs, parts of Sukura near Dansoman, low lying areas at Dome Pillar Two, the Dome Railway Crossing area, parts of Adentan and Westland Down (around Sober Hotel) at West Legon, all in Accra.
The rest are some localities at Tema Community Three, the Sakumono Lagoon area, as well as water-logged areas at Abokobi, Oyarifa, Ningo Old Town and parts of Dodowa.
Mr Tesia announced that NADMO had made preparations for floods in those areas, while the Ghana Air Force and the Ghana Navy had given assurance to assist with helicopters and dinghies to convey flood victims, but asked residents to also protect themselves.
“What happens if help comes too late? We are humans and anything can happen so why take chances?” he queried.
Visits to parts of the areas revealed that estate developers in the metropolis, especially those in the new settlements, had ignored building regulations and built anyhow, in some areas right in the middle of major water courses.
A case in point was a developer who was building very close to a drain at Westland Down at West Legon. The Regional NADMO Co-ordinator said he had warned the developer the previous day and visited the site the following day only to see that the building which had been at knee level had reached lintel level.
The inspection was done in the company of the Greater Accra Regional NADMO officer in charge of Operations, Mr Philip Adu; the Accra Metropolitan Assembly NADMO Co-ordinator, Mr Henry Plange, and the Principal Building Inspector of the Ayawaso Sub-Metropolitan Area, Mr Augustine Okai.