Story By: Samali Abdul Razak – Oti Regional Correspondent
THE OTI Regional National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), led by Director Mr. Kwabena Foster Dzre, has convened a critical stakeholder meeting with key security and developmental agencies to address the escalating hazards threatening the region.
The high-level meeting brought together representatives from the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ghana Red Cross, and other collaborative bodies to strategize on mitigating the impact of natural and man-made disasters.
A Region Under Siege by Natural Disasters:
Speaking at the summit, Oti Regional NADMO Director, Mr. Kwabena Foster Dzre, painted a stark picture of the vulnerabilities facing the Oti Region.
He identified a complex web of hazards that consistently disrupt the lives of residents, including:
Flooding, Bushfires, Communal Conflict, Drought, Windstorms, and Building Collapses.
Mr. Dzre noted that these disasters have had a devastating impact on the region’s socio-economic fabric. The consequences include the tragic loss of lives, destruction of properties, massive loss of farmlands, and severe damage to critical road infrastructure.
Operational Challenges Hinder NADMO’s Response:
Despite the urgent need for intervention, the Oti Regional NADMO Director revealed that the organization is facing significant operational hurdles.
Mr. Dzre outlined three major challenges preventing the directorate from functioning at full capacity, Logistical Constraints. A lack of adequate means of transportation to reach remote disaster zones.
Financial Constraints, Inadequate funding to procure relief items and fuel operations,Human Resource Gaps, A shortage of trained staff to manage the wide scope of the region.
The Director made a passionate appeal to the collaborative agencies present to assist NADMO in addressing these challenges, emphasizing that disaster management requires a collective effort.
Representing the Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr. Frank Aboni highlighted a specific and recurring threat to the region’s economy, food securit.
Mr. Aboni noted that bushfires have become an annual phenomenon in the Oti Region, specifically affecting districts such as, Krachi Nchumburu, Krachi West, Krachi East, Nkwanta North and Nkwanta South.
According to the agric officer, bushfires are the single major threat to farms in the region, destroying crops and threatening the livelihood of local farmers.
In a firm tone, Mr. Aboni urged farmers and residents to desist from activities that spark bushfires, warning that the region’s food security depends on protecting these farmlands.
The meeting concluded with a consensus that addressing the hazards in the Oti Region requires a multi-sectoral approach.
As the region grapples with floods, drought, and fires, the collaboration between NADMO, the Police, the Fire Service, Agriculture, and the Red Cross will be vital in building a resilient Oti Region.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
