Heed Advice From Disaster Mgt Agencies-Veep (Spread)

THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has appealed to communities within flood-prone areas to heed advice from disaster management agencies.
That, he said, would go a long way to minimise the impact of floods.
The Vice-President made the call in a speech read on his behalf at the launch of the 2009 World Disaster Reduction Day which was also used by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to inaugurate Ghana’s version of the United Nations recommended National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Risk Management in Accra yesterday.
The members of the platform who are distinguished personalities with varied expertise and experiences from all sectors of society, have the responsibility of helping to manage disasters in the country.
Mr Mahama told members of the platform that society looked up to them for guidance and inspiration as they searched for strategies to effectively reduce risks and adapt to the effects of climate change.
He said the government would also play its role by ensuring the timely provision of the needed facilities to enhance the operations of the platform.
He lamented the fact that the world was confronted with the climate change phenomenon which continued to unleash various forms of disaster in different parts of the world, including Ghana.
Mr Mahama said currently the nation was confronted with massive flooding in the north after three successive weeks of heavy downpour, adding that the situation had been exacerbated by the spillage of water from the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso which, unfortunately, came on the heels of earlier flooding in the Greater Accra, Central and Ashanti regions.
Speaking on the theme for the celebration, “Hospitals Safe From Disasters”, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Cletus Avoka, said apart from disasters causing havoc, the failure of health facilities during an emergency could provoke an outcry, especially when shoddy construction or the violation of building codes were believed to be the cause.
The Interior Minister, whose speech was read on his behalf, expressed the hope that people should take a critical look at hospital structures in the communities, especially those in flood-prone areas, to ensure that they could withstand disasters and be accessible in times of need.
In his presentation, the UN Resident Co-ordinator in Ghana, Mr Dauoda Toure, said disasters were increasingly affecting the lives and security of the peoples of the world and urged members of the platform to help reduce them in Ghana.
Mr Toure, who is also the UNDP Resident Representative, described disasters as not being issues for tomorrow but today, for which reason they must be tackled with all seriousness.
The National Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, in his welcoming address, urged Ghanaians to support the organisation in its quest to prevent disasters by doing the right thing.
On behalf of her colleagues, a member of the National Platform, Mrs Cecilia Bentsi, gave the assurance that they would do their best to help prevent disasters in Ghana.
The Chairman for the function, Rev Dr Nii Amo Darko, challenged city authorities to be bold in their operations, especially when it came to pulling down structures on water courses, since one life was worth more than any structure put up by man.