National Disaster Plan On The Drawing Board

Accra, - 9 June A national disaster plan is being formulated to guide the country in its preparedness and management of disasters. A source at the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), told GNA today that the plan would embody recommendations from the various sub-committees on hazard mapping, preparedness and vulnerability, risk reduction, training and emergency response. The sub-comittees are fires/lightning, hydrometeorological, geological, pests and insects infestations, epidemics, man-made disasters and relief and reconstruction. The NADMO was established by the first parliament of the fourth republic as a permanent body responsible for managing disasters in the country. The United Nations, in its declaration of an International Decade for Disaster Reduction (1990-2000), made it mandatory for its members to form four sub-committees on disasters. These are fires/lightning, hydrometeorological, geological, and pests and insects infestations. In Ghana, three other sub-committees, namely epidemics, man-made disasters, relief and reconstruction have been added to suit local requirements. At its third sitting, members of the pests and insects infestation sub-committee deliberated on reports presented by its three sub-groups on timber and crops , livestock, poultry and storage. These focused mainly on hazard mapping, preparedness and vulnerability, risk reduction, training and emergency response. The committee also discussed the recent outbreak of anthrax reported in the Upper East region. The sub-committee has Dr S.T. Ampofo, Executive Director of the Cocoa Services Division of COCOBOD as chairman with representatives of professional bodies, ministries, research institutions , the universities, NGO's, security agencies and the media as members.