How Ghana Can Respond To Natural Disasters
The occurrence of natural disasters globally in recent years has attracted the attention of environmental watchers, Geologists, Scientists and Researchers. The last time Ghana encountered a devastating natural disaster was in 1939. It was an earthquake in Accra which claimed 17 lives with hundreds of people injured. After this dreadful and tragic incident, 79 years on, Ghana has recorded some natural disasters. Reference could be made to the May 9 disaster at the Accra Sport Stadium which claimed more than 120 lives with several sustaining various degrees of injury. We also remember the Melcom Disaster at Achimota, the twin disaster of fire and flood at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra, The gas explosion at Atomic junction and a couple of earth tremors, the major one occurring in 1997. During all these natural disasters, the response readiness of key stakeholders and agencies mandated to ensure the safety of the people, protection and preservation of life and property were tried and tested. These agencies proved beyond all reasonable doubts that they are up to the task.
Since 1986, the National Disaster Management Organisation has been at the centre of affairs coordinating, monitoring, supervising and managing disaster related issues. However, it is instructive to note that in managing mass casualty emergencies, it takes a multi-ministerial and multi- sectoral approach in dealing with such issues. We ask ourselves, does the National Disaster Management Organisation have adequate logistical and material capacity to co-ordinate and manage these national calamities. What blueprint and contingency plan has the Organisation? It is indeed worrying to know how state agencies are poorly resourced to carry out their constitutionally mandated responsibilities. The Police Service lacks personnel and critical accoutrements to carry out their duties, the Ghana Ambulance Service has only 17 vehicles nationwide but only four in Accra with a population of over one million residents. The Ghana National Fire Service is not adequately resourced and finds it virtually impossible to fight fire on high rise buildings whilst the Geological Service of Ghana has problem servicing seismographs, gadgets used in monitoring and forecasting earth tremors in earthquake prone areas.
Another vital area is the level of awareness creation amongst civil society. How often are Ghanaians given safety tips on disasters? As a country, can we say in all sincerity that we shall not be caught pants down if an earthquake hits in the deepest of night? Are we battle ready? Do we have the necessary and adequate resources to combat such disasters? Do we have adequate information on what to do? Would it be another knee jerk reaction rather than a proactive one? Since the last disaster at Atomic Junction and the twin disaster at Kwame Nkrumah circle of floods and fires, have we learnt our lessons? Have we moved from the vitualistic tradition of counting our losses after any major disaster and saying never again? Or we formulated a comprehensive plan robust and elaborate enough to combat such disasters? Posterity should be the best judge.
BY: ALFRED HUGHES, A BROADCAST JOURNALIST.
Since 1986, the National Disaster Management Organisation has been at the centre of affairs coordinating, monitoring, supervising and managing disaster related issues. However, it is instructive to note that in managing mass casualty emergencies, it takes a multi-ministerial and multi- sectoral approach in dealing with such issues. We ask ourselves, does the National Disaster Management Organisation have adequate logistical and material capacity to co-ordinate and manage these national calamities. What blueprint and contingency plan has the Organisation? It is indeed worrying to know how state agencies are poorly resourced to carry out their constitutionally mandated responsibilities. The Police Service lacks personnel and critical accoutrements to carry out their duties, the Ghana Ambulance Service has only 17 vehicles nationwide but only four in Accra with a population of over one million residents. The Ghana National Fire Service is not adequately resourced and finds it virtually impossible to fight fire on high rise buildings whilst the Geological Service of Ghana has problem servicing seismographs, gadgets used in monitoring and forecasting earth tremors in earthquake prone areas.
Another vital area is the level of awareness creation amongst civil society. How often are Ghanaians given safety tips on disasters? As a country, can we say in all sincerity that we shall not be caught pants down if an earthquake hits in the deepest of night? Are we battle ready? Do we have the necessary and adequate resources to combat such disasters? Do we have adequate information on what to do? Would it be another knee jerk reaction rather than a proactive one? Since the last disaster at Atomic Junction and the twin disaster at Kwame Nkrumah circle of floods and fires, have we learnt our lessons? Have we moved from the vitualistic tradition of counting our losses after any major disaster and saying never again? Or we formulated a comprehensive plan robust and elaborate enough to combat such disasters? Posterity should be the best judge.
BY: ALFRED HUGHES, A BROADCAST JOURNALIST.
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