National Disaster Management Committee inaugurated to strengthen Ghana’s disaster readiness

The Minister for the Interior, Mr. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has inaugurated the National Disaster Management Committee to strengthen Ghana’s disaster preparedness and response under the National Disaster Management Organisation Act, 2016 (Act 927).

The inauguration held on Friday in Accra formally mandates the Committee to ensure that adequate facilities are available for relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and recovery in the event of a disaster.

The Minister urged the Committee to collaborate with public institutions, non-governmental organisations, and donor agencies to secure financial support and logistics necessary for effective disaster management, as well as perform other functions related to its mandate.

He added that the Committee’s responsibilities also include coordinating and managing national disasters, collaborating with relevant government agencies, and securing assistance from public or private institutions to deal with disasters.

The Minister emphasised that investing in preparedness is far less costly than recovery, urging “a participatory approach that leaves no community behind.”

He referenced the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage, which displaced thousands, as a reminder of gaps in preparedness and coordination.

Mr. Muntaka assured the Committee of the government’s full support, pledging to empower NADMO with the necessary resources to deliver on its mandate.