Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has urged residents to pay closer attention to weather forecasts and flood warnings issued through traditional and social media platforms, saying greater public awareness could help reduce the impact of disasters during the rainy season.
The appeal follows a series of incidents in the Greater Accra Region, including widespread flooding, a major fire outbreak in Accra’s central business district and the collapse of a two-storey building at Adenta New Site.
Richard Amo Yartey, NADMO’s Director of Inspectorate, said many people ignore weather forecasts and early warning alerts, leaving themselves vulnerable when heavy rains and flooding occur.
“Thanks to technology, we’re able to forecast and even warn of imminent floods. Listen more to weather information,” Yartey said in an interview with Citi FM on Thursday. “Citizens must listen to the radio and check social media for weather warnings and abide by the directions.”
He encouraged residents to familiarise themselves with the locations of NADMO offices in their communities and to make use of emergency contact numbers to facilitate quicker reporting and response during emergencies.
Yartey noted that NADMO maintains offices in districts and zones across the country and said residents could obtain information on designated safe locations and evacuation procedures from the nearest office.
He also urged the public to use the national emergency hotline and NADMO’s direct contact lines when in distress.
Responding to criticism that the organisation has not done enough to educate the public on disaster preparedness, Yartey said NADMO continues to carry out sensitisation campaigns but faces challenges with public compliance.
“Failed, I would say no, we’re doing the very best we can. Just that people don’t listen, they don’t pay attention,” he said.
The comments come as authorities monitor conditions during Ghana’s rainy season, which often brings flooding in low-lying communities and disruptions to transport and economic activity, particularly in Accra.
Yartey said reducing the impact of floods and other disasters would require greater cooperation from the public and stricter adherence to safety advisories issued by emergency management agencies.
source:citinewsroom
