Ghana needs disaster policy - NGOs

The Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health on Friday called for a policy on disaster, health safety and psychotherapy to enable the country better manage disaster victims.

A statement signed by Mr Gabriel Biel Benarkuu, National Chairman of the Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health, drew attention to fact that such a national policy is needed to inform the amendment of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) Act 517.

"We therefore call on government especially the select committees on environment, disaster and relief to initiate an urgent review of the NADMO ACT 517.

"The law is old and not too relevant to the current situation, given the fact that, Ghana’s population was less than 19 million people when it was enacted," it said.

“The law establishing NADMO (Act 517, 1996) must be amended to respond to the current crisis the country is undergoing in terms of disaster planning, management, urban growth and human protection mechanism,” the statement said.

It said the consultation policy leading to the enactment of the law also restricts civil society organization (CSOs) and private organisations in providing inputs at the committee levels and thus most of the time NADMO is not making conscious effort to involve CSOs holistically

The statement noted that for the last six months there has been human rights violations, poor approaches and administration of the disasters support services to victims affected by floods, fires, demolitions and forceful evictions of Ghanaians.

“As a country, we have not attached seriousness or professional approach to the situations because our laws or policies are not adequately addressing the current human settlement and protection issues."

Recently the power crisis nicknamed “Dumsor” is even making Ghanaians more prone to disasters whether at home, work place and or within the general environment, the statement said.

The NGOs called on government to enforce Section 2 (29-f) to include psycho therapeutic interventions to manage mental health issues and traumatic conditions as a result of poor planning and collaboration

"We also recommend Government to come out with clear guidelines on how disaster relief funds should be co-ordinated. The current arrangements are not managed in both public and private sectors with focus on accountability and equitable distribution."