The Communication Director at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), George Ayisi, has expressed the Organization’s readiness for this year’s possible flooding across the country.
Mr Ayisi revealed that NADMO is ready to send families to safety when they are affected by the floods. He also noted that his team is actively involved in sensitizing people on how to deal with flooding.
“So, we are ready for the season’s possible flooding and getting families to safety and all that. I spoke about our certain rescue team being ready, operations team are on standby. When they need us, we will be able to go immediately to assist people and help them to safety”.
George Ayisi
Mr. Ayisi explained the need for the public to be vigilant during the rainfalls. He indicated that it will be prudent for them to pay heed to the Ghana Meteorological Agency’s forecasts on weather warning. Additionally, he advised parents to keep their children away from flooded areas.
“Because of the weather forecast given by the Meteorological Services, that it’s going to be windy [with] thunderstorms, we’ve got to be careful when we want to go out. We should pay heed to the weather warnings and act accordingly. These days, the Meteo’s forecast is near perfection. So, let’s abide by those forecasts. Once it’s stormy and windy, don’t move out till the rains are over and you can go about your duties. Our children, let’s not allow them to be playing in flood waters because we say it is swift and it can pull anybody away”.
George Ayisi
Resettlement of displaced residents in Shama
Commenting on the progress made so far by the Organisation in alleviating the plight of displaced residents of Anlo beach, a community in the Shama District of the Western Region, Mr Ayisi indicated that NADMO is working to ensure that these persons are catered to. He, however, underscored the need for the construction and execution of the sea defence project to avert further devastation of communities along the coastal lines.
“We’ve gotten people some safe havens and they are putting up. We’ve gotten relief items for some people, especially Shama and Sege areas. We are going to make follow-ups on that score. And the people, the clarion call, interestingly, all over these three places is that we need a sea defence protection project. It’s only the Shama people that have given us some assurance that before now, they were vehemently opposed to relocation, but now they are ready. Once the land is ready, they are ready to relocate. But they still call for the sea defence protection project and I believe government is taking steps [on that]”.
George Ayisi
It will be recalled that over four hundred residents have been rendered homeless following a tidal wave that swept into households in the Shama Municipality and several communities along some coastal parts of the country such as Amutinu Salakope, Agavedzi, Blekusu, and Adina in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region, as well as Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Municipality of the Central Region.
To address the issue, NADMO along with the DCE for the Shama district, Mr Ebenezer Dadzie, revealed that it has become necessary to avoid another possible havoc from the devastating waves. They further expressed the Assembly’s resolve to relocate displaced residents in the affected communities.
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