Government rises to disaster challenges

Accra, Sept. 27, GNA - Mr Kwamena Bartels, Minister of the Interior, on Thursday said government had approved 6.1 billion Ghana Cedis for the acquisition of additional emergency relief items for the flood victims in the three northern regions.

He said that had since been complemented with the establishment of the National Disaster Relief Fund in which government had deposited 61 billion cedis to bring relief to the affected areas within the short and medium terms.

Mr Bartels, who was addressing the press on the disaster in the three northern regions and parts of Western and Volta regions said the Inter-Ministerial Task Force would serve as a strategic focal point to ensure a holistic and coordinated approach to the management of the disaster.

He said the task force through National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had continued to distribute emergency relief items to the victims.

"So far, four consignments of relief items have been supplied and additional purchases of assorted goods and food items are being distributed," he said.

The Minister said the government had seen the need to involve the development partners both local and foreign to map out a strategy for a concerted approach towards the management of the disaster. The three northern regions were flooded as a result of torrential rains, destroying properties - houses and farmlands and causing lost of lives.

So far, 56 deaths were recorded, 34,336 houses collapsed ,about 332,548 people were displaced in the affected regions and 70,526 hectares with a production potential of 144,430 metric tonnes of crops were destroyed.

Mr Bartels said the government, in concert with its development partners - local and foreign, governmental and non-governmental, corporate bodies and individuals would continue to monitor the situation and would factor in all strategic planning and other components into its relief management strategy.

"We are faced with a disaster and what is even worrying is the fact that successful recovery from this situation is definitely going to be a difficult path fraught with dangers," he said and appealed to all and sundry to see the plight of the people of the affected people as a matter of concern to all.

He said it was crucial that all suspicions, quarrels and disputes were set aside for the unity of the country.

"This is not the time for politicisation of issues. This is not the time for the "tribalisation" of issues. It is certainly not the time for unwarranted criticisms. It is time to unite to deal with the calamity that has befallen our people," he said.

Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said they embarked on aggressive education to sensitise the people to boil their water before drinking to avert any possible water- borne diseases.

He said, "in addition we would be spraying the whole area and the water bodies to ensure that the people would be affected with diseases such as bilharzias and river blindness."

Alhaji Boniface said the Ministry would dig some 2000 boreholes for the people after the flood subsided.

"We are also carrying out an exercise to come out with a long term detailed design for our buildings. We are also considering changing the system of building but maintain our culture in modernity by adding cement to the brisk to give it weight," he said.