The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Volta region have begun engagements with residents in flood prone communities ahead of the rainy season.
The engagements were to promote preventive and safety measures to reduce casualties when the rains set in. Mr Divine Bosson, Regional NADMO Coordinator, said the Organization was educating the public on disaster risk reduction, alongside the distribution of relief items.
He said Adaklu, as one of the 17 flood prone Districts in the Region, needed regular sensitization before the rains set in, noting that, climate change had made the rains unpredictable.
Mr Bosson called on the traditional authorities and the Assembly to ensure residents obeyed the bye-laws. Mr. Donkoh Phanuel Kadey, Ditrict Chief Executive, Adaklu, noted that, about 90 per cent of the landmass in the District was below sea level, making the District flood-prone.
He said floods had claimed lives, properties and farm produce over the years and had become a subject of great concern of late.Mr Kadey noted that Kalakpa, Waya, and Todze rivers overflow their banks every year, cutting the District off from other communities.
He called on the residents to stop building on waterways and avoid flooded areas when it rained. Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Janet Agyeiwaa Duah, Volta Regional Fire Commander, entreated residents living along the rivers to be watchful during the rainy season and stated the readiness of the Service to respond to distress calls.