Ghana: International day for disaster reduction commemorated

The National Coordinator of NADMO, Mr Kofi Portuphy, have assured members of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) of a representation on the Relief and Reconstruction Technical Committee to get them involved in the planning, implementing and monitoring of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) actions in climate change policies, conflict prevention and mitigation.

He gave the assurance at a press conference organised as part of activities to mark this year International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) in Accra. The Day which is celebrated on October 13, each year is on the theme: “Living with Disability and Disasters”.

The Day was designated by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness about the importance of disaster risk reduction and to encourage every citizen and government to take part in building more disaster resilient communities and nations.

According to Mr. Portuphy, NADMO would incorporate a comprehensive accessibility in humanitarian action policies, and ensure that relief operations are fully accessible to all, including Persons with Disability (PWD).

“As the government organization responsible for disaster management we will ensure that all the efforts of stakeholders are coordinated to ensure that disability is included in their project as a core cross-cutting theme", he said.

Mr. Portuphy added that between 2002 and 2011, 4,130 disasters were recorded and 1,117, 527 people perished around the world while a minimum of 1,195 billion dollars was also recorded in losses.

In 2011 alone, 302 disasters claimed 29, 782 lives, affected 206 million and inflicted damages worth an estimated 366 billion dollars.

In an address delivered on his behalf, the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, stated that IDDR 2013 arms at bringing to the fore the peculiar plight of PWDs in the event of disaster and also to tap into their unique contribution to disaster risk reduction. The Minister said the day provided an opportunity for PWDs to express their concerns, disclose their needs and make recommendations to be included in the planning process of reducing and managing disasters.

In his address, Mr. Isaac Tuggu, National Advocacy Officer of the Ghana Federation for the Disabled (GFD) expressed appreciation to NADMO for recognising the plights of the disabled and welcomed the coming on board of a member of the Federation.

He said Ghana was more than 90% inaccessible to PWDs in terms of infrastructure, attitude, information and communication which impede the ability of PWDs to escape from any disaster. He mentioned that almost all public buildings were not disability friendly and asked government to back actions with words, saying, what was equally worrying is that the country had no credible data on disability making planning for them difficult.

He, therefore, called for the implementation of all pro-disability legislations like the Persons with Disability Act, National Disability Policy of 2000 and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of PWDs (UNCRPD), among others, adding that no disaster-resilient plan could succeed without the contribution of PWDs.