Gt Accra records 33 fatalities in disasters

Monday January 3, 2011

THIRTY-THREE fatalities, 715 injuries and 16,211 displaced persons was the picture of the disaster situation in the Greater Accra Region for 2010, according to a report issued by the Greater Accra Regional Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The report said unlike the year 2009 where disasters occurred mainly in the Accra Metropolitan Area with seven deaths and 7,969 displaced persons, in 2010, there were incidents in some of the municipalities and districts within the region.
It said there were series of hydro-meteorological disasters (floods, rainstorms, wind), fires and conflicts, which caused a number of fatalities, injuries and displaced a number of people from their homes.
The performance review report signed by the NADMO Regional Co-ordinator, Mr Winfred Tesia, and made available to the Daily Graphic covered January to December 24, 2010.
The fire outbreak at the Makola Number Two Market in Accra which destroyed 920 facilities belonging to 648 persons, caught the attention of the presidency and a committee of enquiry was set up to investigate it. The committee had since submitted its report to the Greater Accra Regional Minister.
The report said, in spite of the numerous disasters which occurred during the year, the regional NADMO directorate proved equal to the task and successfully managed the situation towards saving lives, preventing injuries and protecting properties and the environment.
It said that was achieved as a result of capacity building that ensured effective collaboration with other stakeholders including the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region.
It said a two-week course in disaster management with resource persons from Florida State University and North Dakota University was organised for 10 senior management staff to equip themselves technically with modern international standards on the job.
In addition, separate workshops on different dates were also held at the various MMDAs for respective disaster management committee members with guidance of resource persons from NADMO headquarters as well as a day’s workshop for NADMO district co-ordinators and operation officers to equip them for efficient management of disasters.
“In pursuit of the regional agenda to equip all staff with the know-how, series of workshop for all staff has started at the Adenta Municipality and will continue in the other MMDAs in 2011”, it stated.
During the year under review, 64 district volunteer groups (DVGs) were formed in the region to serve as first line response in any emergency situation.
It pointed out that the national secretariat provided four motor bikes which were distributed among the regional directorate, the Ga South Municipality and the Dangme West and East districts respectively.
It pointed out that its greatest challenge in the year had been lack of logistics, operation rooms and rapid response units in the region, lack of co-operation from building inspectors at the various MMDAs and inadequate funding from the district assemblies.
To sustain the achievements so far made this year, the organisation said it would intensify fire prevention activities in collaboration with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) with markets, public places and industrial concerns as the main target.