Seth Kwame Acheampong, the Eastern Regional Minister, claims that despite climate change and deteriorating weather conditions, the government is still dedicated to making the nation disaster-resistant.
He said that, as a consequence, the government had created a workable policy statement that compelled diverse industries to take steps to mitigate and solve climate issues on a national scale.
It is not surprising that Ghana has ratified several international conventions that provide the framework for addressing issues of climate change because the effects of climate change transcend continental boundaries and we have experienced our fair share of extreme weather events that have caused loss of life and property.
This was said by Mr. Acheampong last Friday in Akosombo at the conclusion of a simulation exercise that the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) had run to prepare for potential dam leakage events.
Durbar
The Akwamu Traditional Area's Adantemhene, Nana Kwame Asamoah Yeboah-Afari, presided over the durbar, which included all of the participants' and other stakeholders' representatives, on behalf of Odeneno Kwafo Akoto, the area's paramount chief.
The "Da woho so" exercise was a component of the VRA's disaster preparation plan for the Akosombo and Kpong dams and was designed to improve the capacity of state agencies to respond to crises brought on by the discharge of a sizable volume of water from the dams.
The simulation exercise took place last Thursday in the districts of Asuogyaman, North Tongu, and Ada East—three of the nine that would be most likely to sustain significant damage in the case of a dam spill.
It featured both mandatory and voluntary evacuations, complete evacuations, and search and rescue operations.
The National Ambulance Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the North Dakota National Guard, and the US Embassy, which provided technical support and training, were all participants in the comprehensive exercise.
Commendation
I urge you all to take the lessons learned seriously and update your individual standard operating procedures to make them even more relevant since the collaboration between the VRA, NADMO, and all the other agencies is admirable and worthy of imitation.
The simulation, according to Edward Obeng-Kenzo, Deputy Chief Executive, Engineering and Operations, VRA, revealed and identified areas and risks that need addressing for better emergency response.
He reaffirmed the authority's commitment to working to better fulfill its purpose while advancing efforts to safeguard the public.
Good cause
Even though the full-scale simulation exercise required extensive planning and execution, according to NADMO Director-General Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, it was worthwhile because it would help to prevent or mitigate disasters and reduce casualty levels.
"I thus reaffirm our commitment to assisting ministries, departments, agencies, and the business sector in developing strategies to reduce, respond to, and recover from emergencies to improve our residents' security," he continued.
The US Embassy's representative, Lt. Col. Carl Otenbeg of the North Dakota National Guard, praised the success of the exercise and said, "I am proud to see that the student has taken lessons, made them their own, and become a peer with the master."
Divine Osborn Fenu, the chief executive of the North Tongu District Assembly, thanked the government for caring about citizens in disadvantaged areas.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0