The Member of Parliament for Adenta Kojo Adu – Asare, has questioned Ghana’s capacity and preparedness to deal with an unanticipated natural disaster.
He says governments over the years have not demonstrated enough commitment to deal with natural disasters, as they have failed to adequately equip the relevant state institutions including the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and the National Ambulance Service.
Hon. Adu Asare’s comment comes in the wake of a massive earthquake that has hit the north-east of Japan, triggering a tsunami that has caused extensive damage.
Japanese television showed cars, ships and even buildings being swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake.
The quake has sparked fires in several areas including Tokyo, with over a 100 people aboard a ship reportedly missing.
A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to include the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hawaii, the Pacific coast of Russia and North and South America.
Commenting on the issue on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem show Friday, the Member of Parliament for Adenta Kojo Adu –Asare, who sympathized with the tsunami victims emphasized the need for Ghana as a country to attach more seriousness to providing logistics to deal with natural occurrences.
“In the advanced countries, there are tricycles designed as ambulances which are very effective, whereas in Ghana our ambulances carry one person at a time, what happens when there is a huge disaster that requires mass of people to be carried’’? He asked.
Hon. Adu-Asare noted that adequate resourcing of the relevant institution will ensure the reduction of fatalities in the event of a natural disaster.
A report of an earth tremor occurrence in parts of Accra last month could not be confirmed by the Geological Survey Department as the nation did not have the equipment to measure incidence of earthquakes or tremors. A new equipment is yet to be purchased to replace the obsolete one.
Story by : Kwadwo Anim/ghanamps.gov.gh
