Mrs Adelaide Annor-Kumi, Chief Director, Ministry of the Interior, has said the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Bill which is before Parliament would be passed into law next year.
The bill seeks to give NADMO a clear constitutional mandate.
“Under the NADMO Bill, Government has re-organised its approach to disaster management to make it more participatory putting in place measures which would bring our communities on board in disaster management,” she said.
Mrs Annor-Kumi said this during the opening of the 7th National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Management in Accra.
The National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change is made up of a group of eminent Ghanaians with the sole purpose of advising NADMO on disaster management.
She said the main challenge of NADMO, which is funding, had also been addressed in the Bill by requesting for the establishment of Disaster Fund where well-meaning Ghanaians, NGOs and international organisations could donate.
She expressed her appreciation to the Platform for dedicating one of its sub committees to the development of strategies to mobilise funds for NADMO’s work.
Mrs Annor-Kumi also praised Ghana’s development partners such as the UNDP, the World Bank, the United States, the United Kingdom, ECOWAS among others for their assistance towards the activities of NADMO especially during the June 3rd disaster.
Mr Ebenezer Dosoo, Deputy NADMO National Coordinator, said NADMO has developed a pool of resource persons in the performance of its national duty and had helped the promotion of disaster risk management through advocacy, research, risk assessment and the provision of timely and informed advice.
He said the implementation of the West Africa Disaster Preparedness Initiative which saw the training of participants from 17 ECOWAS countries on disaster risk management, the organization of training programmes in the areas of fire-fighting, Geographic Information System, relief rationing as some of the programmes NADMO was able to undertake this year.
He said next year, NADMO would make fund mobilization strategy, disaster risk reduction advocacy strategy as part of its main focus in its fight against disaster.
He said the passage of the NADMO Bill into Act would reposition the organization to meet the global criteria for combating disasters.
In a message read on her behalf, Madam Kristine Klock, UN Resident Coordinator, commended Government for the leadership and collaboration with the UNDP which culminated into the establishment of the Platform.
She pledged the readiness of the UN to continue to work to bring on board international best practices and technical assistance to NADMO.
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