Former Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Dr. Dickson Adomako Kissi, has called on the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to place greater emphasis on flood prevention rather than focusing primarily on the distribution of relief items.
According to him, Ghana’s disaster management strategy must become more proactive if the country is to effectively tackle its recurring flooding challenges.
His remarks follow the recent heavy rains that triggered widespread flooding across parts of the Greater Accra Region, claiming lives, displacing residents, inundating homes and businesses, and sparking a fire outbreak at Odawna.
Speaking on Channel One TV, Dr. Adomako Kissi said NADMO has, over the years, been inadequately resourced to effectively carry out its mandate, arguing that successive governments have failed to equip the agency with the logistics and tools needed for effective disaster management.
“NADMO’s equipment levels are low, and it’s not an NDC government issue. Over the years, NADMO has not been well equipped. The Ghanaian NADMO, which is a disaster management authority, has largely been focused on giving out rice and mattresses, and I really think that the focus needs to change,” he said.
The former lawmaker argued that disaster prevention should receive the same level of attention as emergency response and relief distribution, with greater investment in engineering expertise and flood mitigation initiatives.
“Prevention is also part of their mandate. They need appropriate engineers, not party faithful, who can work with the assemblies to identify high-risk flood areas and implement preventive measures before disasters occur,” he stated.
Dr. Adomako Kissi also expressed concern about worsening traffic congestion caused by flooding, particularly for commuters travelling into Accra, and urged authorities to engage companies whose activities may be obstructing waterways or contributing to flood risks.
He further appealed to the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, to review budgetary allocations to NADMO and ensure the organisation is adequately funded to invest in long-term flood prevention and disaster preparedness.
His call comes as authorities continue to assess the impact of the latest floods, which have inundated several communities, displaced residents and renewed concerns about Ghana’s readiness to respond to increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
