The Executive Director of the Bureau of Public Safety, Dr Nana Yaw Akwada, says improved early warning systems and stronger collaboration among emergency response agencies could significantly reduce the impact of flooding during Ghana’s rainy season.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, March 5, Dr Akwada says effective coordination among state institutions will be key to minimising the effects of flooding across the country during this year’s rainy season.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has launched intensified inspections of major drains in the Greater Accra Region as part of preparations to prevent flooding ahead of the rainy season.
He noted that while flooding cannot be completely prevented, better preparation and response could significantly reduce the damage and loss of life associated with such events.
“I’m not too sure about the use of the word ‘curbing’, but I think the measures being discussed will go a long way to reduce flooding across cities if they are implemented well,” he said.
According to him, some level of flooding remains inevitable in parts of the country during periods of heavy rainfall.
“We will certainly see flooding. We will certainly see properties go down, and we may also see lives lost,” he stated.
However, he stressed that strong collaboration between the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), city authorities, and other public safety agencies could help prevent fatalities.
Dr. Akwada said agencies such as the police, the ambulance service and the Ghana Meteorological Agency must work closely together to respond promptly when heavy rains are expected.
“If NADMO, together with the city authorities and public safety agencies like the police and ambulance service, liaise very well with the Ghana Meteorological Agency, they will be able to carry out the necessary evacuations when needed,” he explained.
He added that timely weather alerts would make it easier for authorities to evacuate residents from communities that are known to experience flooding.
Dr. Akwada pointed out that several areas in Accra, parts of the Central Region, Kumasi, the Western Region, and the Volta Region are prone to flooding during heavy rains.
“In some cases, it is not just communities that flood, but entire stretches of roads,” he said.
He therefore urged authorities to identify such flood-prone routes and consider temporarily closing them when heavy rainfall is anticipated.
“I think if we have effective collaboration with public safety agencies, we will see less chaos during this year’s rainy season,” he added.
Dr. Akwada also commended the leadership of the Director-General of NADMO for efforts aimed at improving the country’s flood preparedness, expressing hope that a coordinated approach would produce better outcomes this year.
“I’m hoping the leadership will be clinical in this effort and very collaborative so that this year we can hear a different story when the rains begin,” he said.
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