Africa-Press – Ghana. The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Municipal office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has called for an immediate relief supplies for 587 residents displaced by a severe flood and rainstorm that struck the area recently.
The disaster left 171 male adults, 238 female adults, 88 boys and 90 girls affected.
In addition, more than 253 homes were damaged, forcing families to endure precarious living conditions as they sought shelter and necessities from friends and relatives.
Mr Edward Sortoh, the KEEA Municipal NADMO Director, made the appeal during the 2025 International Day for Disaster Prevention at Bantuma, a suburb of Elmina.
The day was observed on the theme: “Fund resilience, not disaster”.
The celebration saw scores of pupils marching through the principal streets of Elmina with placards bearing messages such as “Stop beach sand winning,” “Beach sand winning is illegal,” “Don’t store petrol at home,” and “Your safety matters”.
Generally, the celebration was aimed at raising public awareness about disaster risks and the urgent need for community action as the day highlights the importance of reducing disaster risks globally.
It encourages communities, governments and organisations to invest in resilience, preparedness and sustainable practices that can save lives, protect property and preserve livelihoods.
By commemorating the day, people are reminded of their role in preventing disasters, promoting safety and fostering a culture of risk awareness.
Mr Sortoh said there was the urgent need for sustained humanitarian assistance and robust recovery planning in times of disaster to prevent further hardship and to expedite rebuilding.
He stated: “The profound hardships faced by affected communities demand immediate and unwavering humanitarian aid, coupled with strategic recovery efforts to halt suffering and accelerate rebuilding.
“NADMO KEEA urgently requires a vehicle to fulfil this vital mission, and we call on all to join us in support.”
Mr Kwesi Dawood, the Central Regional Director of NADMO in a statement read on his behalf, said the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, was established by the UN in 1989 to promote global disaster prevention and resilience.
He said Ghana had since 1996 advanced disaster management with better early warning systems, community-based risk reduction and cross-agency coordination, reducing vulnerabilities in hazard-prone regions.
That, he said, reinforced the yearlong theme: “Resilient Communities, Sustainable Future,” emphasing local resilience as essential to sustainable development and climate-adaptive protection of lives, livelihoods and the environment.
Mr Dawood warned about rising coastal sea levels (over five percent annual increase) driven mainly by human activities, threatening coastal communities and ecosystems.
He condemned the theft of marbles used for sea defence projects and cautioned against building on waterways and dumping waste into gutters.
Mr Dawood highlighted harmful practices like sand winning and blocked gutters, which disrupted water flow, worsened erosion and threatened good sanitation.
Likewise, he called for collective responsibility across government, civil society and citizens to protect natural land/water boundaries and pursue sustainable development and disaster prevention.
Mr Ismael Augustus Zagoon-Saed, the Municipal Chief Executive, called for a shift in community attitudes toward sanitation, highlighting its importance for public health and development.
He noted that poor sanitation practices such as indiscriminate waste disposal, lack of regular cleaning and dumping in waterways led to blocked drains, flooding, disease spread and environmental degradation.
To address these issues, the Municipal Assembly announced plans to intensify public education, organise clean-up campaigns, enforce sanitation laws, improve waste management services, and work with local leaders to encourage positive behavioural changes.
Nana Kwesi Kwegya Ankomah IV, Chief of Elmina-Bantuma, highlighted the importance of enhancing disaster preparedness to minimise risks and effects.
Similarly, he also condemned the indiscriminate disposal of waste and called on the Assembly to demolish unauthorized buildings constructed on waterways to prevent flooding and environmental damage.
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