By Maxwell Awumah
Ho, June 27, GNA – Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister, has said a well-developed emergency preparedness plan, which is regularly reviewed, could help minimise significant losses and impact on humans and property.
He called for a practical and collective roadmap for swift action to mitigate its impact when disaster strikes.
Mr Gunu disclosed these during a workshop on Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) with District Assemblies, at the instance of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and the Volta River Authority (VRA), in Ho.
He said the workshop underscored the importance for proactive governance and community safety, resilience, and sustainable development.
“We cannot afford to be reactive; we must be proactive, planning meticulously for any eventuality.”
He observed that the effectiveness of a well-coordinated regional emergency response hinged significantly on the strength of your respective District Emergency Preparedness Plans and stakeholders’ commitment to sound environmental management practices.
He said issues such as deforestation, poor waste management, and unsustainable land use practices could exacerbate the impact of natural phenomena.
“By embracing effective environmental management, we are not just protecting our natural heritage; we are building resilience against future disasters. We must ensure that our development initiatives are environmentally sound and contribute to the long-term sustainability of our region.”
“Delve into actionable strategies and brainstorm practical steps for implementation, monitoring, and regular review and again identify potential gaps in our current approaches and work collaboratively to address them.”
The Regional Minister said the VRCC was committed to supporting inter-agency stakeholder efforts in strengthening disaster preparedness and environmental stewardship at the district level.
“Let this workshop be a catalyst for renewed commitment and enhanced cooperation. Let us emerge from these discussions with clearer objectives, stronger plans, and a shared resolve to make the Volta Region a model of resilience and sustainable development.”
Madam Akosua Effah Owusu, a representative of VRA, said in a presentation that the EPP formed part of the entity’s annual outreach programme to engage key stakeholders and elicit responses to guide its operations, particularly, on anticipated disasters.
She said the EPP was an early warming mechanism, which identified potential emergencies and outlines pre-planned actions to minimize property damage and loss of lives, or risks posed in a case of spillage to people, property and economic activities downstream.
She said during emergency situations protocols included detection and evaluation, notification activated, followed by implementation and direction of emergency repairs and preventive action and participation in the warning of potentially affected people.
She indicated that under spillage emergencies, expected inundated areas were mapped-out, designated safe havens outlined and targeted messages relayed to impacted communities based on the level of the discharge with collaboration with key stakeholders at the district, including Chiefs and related institutions.
Mr Abdul Noor Wahab, Director, Department of Water Resources and Renewable Energy, said EPP was a national security concern and encompassed inter-agencies towards mitigating the effects on humans and the environment.
He insisted on thorough emergency planning and management at the District levels to be disaster-ready, saying fighting emergencies was always a collaborative responsibility.
Participants demanded greater collaboration and information flow from VRA on emergency risk assessment, rainfall trends, tributaries assessment, levels of water in reservoir to aid planning and management in handling of emergencies.
Nine Districts in three Regions, Volta, Eastern and the Greater Accra, are on the radar of the VRA on EPP and EMP situations.
GNA
Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/Christian Akorlie