Ghana: Launch of 2010-2011 World disaster reduction campaign

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), in collaboration with the local government service, held a press conference at the conference hall of the ministry of information and national orientation to launch the International day for disaster reduction 2010 campaign last week. The theme for this year is Making cities resilient: "my city is getting ready". The chairman for the press conference, Hon. John Tia Akologo, minister of information welcomed the panel and the press to the function. The panel members included:

• The deputy minister of interior, Hon. Dr. Apea-Kubi 
• The chairman of the national platform, Rev. Dr. Nii Amoo-Darku
• The national co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr. Kofi Portuphy 
• The U.N. resident co-ordinator, Madam Ruby Sandhu Rojan 
• The deputy co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr. P.K. Abonnie  

Mr Portuphy said in his welcome address that the “campaign does not focus only on the cities but also on other urban areas where slums have been structured. The theme for the campaign is ‘Making Cities Resilient: "my city is getting ready", part of the world disaster reduction campaign, with the objective of making all cities resilient to disaster. Mr Portuphy thanked everyone for coming and expressed hope that the theme would enhance disaster risk reduction in the country.

The United Nations resident co-ordinator, Ms Ruby Sandhu Rojan, delivered a message on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki- moon. She said the day was an opportunity to focus their attention on work that had been done and could still be done to make communities around the world safer from disasters. She mentioned the recent rain experienced in the Northern Ghana resulting in severe flooding in most communities around the white and black Volta basin.

Ms Sandhu also mentioned the destruction of lives and properties around the Ashaiman in the Greater Accra, Central and Western regions as a result of floods experienced this year. Ms Sandhu said that the United Nations system in Ghana provides support to NADMO in preparing the national contingency plan and also to undertake a detailed assessment including early recovery. She also said the UN system was playing a leading role in reinforcing existing practices and capacities in terms of preparing disaster risk reduction initiatives.

Ms Sandhu urged all media practitioners, civil societies, government institutions, public sector and international bodies to collaborate with NADMO and other emergency agencies. She said “reducing disaster risks is everyone’s business and it needs everybody’s participation and investments”. She also hinted that decision making should be inclusive and participatory and also city planners must tackle the hazards in urban areas. 

The deputy minister of the interior, Dr Kwasi Apea-Kubi, gave the keynote address. He said that increased population densities, environmental degradation, rapid urbanization and global warming due to climate change make the impact of disasters very severe.

Hon. Apea-Kubi said, the theme for the celebration, 'Making cities resilient: My city is getting ready' world disaster reduction campaign was a vital one in the search for solutions in numerous disasters such as perennial floods and fire outbreaks which continue to claim more lives, destruction of properties and infrastructure worth millions of Cedis yearly. He also said the frequent movement of people from rural areas to cities in greater numbers in search of opportunities, or due to conflicts, environmental degradation, floods, and droughts also contribute to urbanization. He said, high population density was a significant drive where the quality of housing, infrastructure and services were poor. Hon. Apea-Kubi said it was unfortunate that rapid urbanization also generates a number of risks, especially when combined with the impact of street planning events.

The Hon. deputy minister said, Ghana’s world disaster campaign was to sensitize and mobilize their metropolitan, municipal, district chief executives, city planners and all stakeholders to put in place measures to reduce disasters such as floods, fire outbreaks, outbreak of diseases and, above all to create a peaceful atmosphere for sustainable development. He gave a sincere gratitude to the technical committee, the stakeholders, and the media for making the programme a successful one.

The chairman of the national platform for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation, Rev. Dr. Amoo-Darku, gave an insight into climate change and urged the media personnel to collaborate with the citizens in making the communities safe from disasters. He also spoke on advocacy for the betterment of disaster risk reduction and also to build resilient cities. After the various addresses and the launch of the campaign by the Hon. deputy minister for the interior, the floor was opened for questions from the media and other participants.