The Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Dr Eric Asuman, has stated that it would be unfair to suggest that state institutions ignored weather advisories ahead of the recent floods, insisting that several agencies undertook preparedness measures before the rains.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Dr Asuman said GMet collaborated with regional authorities and key stakeholders across the country to educate the public on flood preparedness and disaster risk reduction.
According to him, the agency declared March as Meteorological Awareness Month and embarked on nationwide public education campaigns involving regional ministers, metropolitan and municipal chief executives, and disaster management agencies.
“I don’t think it’s right to say the institutions didn’t take the advisory seriously. In March, we held Meteorological Awareness Month in all the regions,” he stated.
Dr Asuman said that during engagements in Kumasi, he witnessed efforts by the Ashanti Regional Minister to clear choked drains.
“In Kumasi, together with the Regional Minister, the Mayor and NADMO, we met and I saw the Minister desilting some gutters, and I’m sure that was based on the information we provided,” he said.
He explained that similar engagements were held in other regions, including Bono, where traditional leaders, local government officials and education authorities were sensitised on flood risks.
“We also went to Sunyani and met the chief, the MCE and the Minister for Education,” he noted.
The GMet Director-General added that the agency extended its awareness campaign to religious bodies, civil society organisations and other public institutions to encourage broader public participation in disaster preparedness.
“We made it a priority to engage eminent citizens so they would also help educate people on rains, floods and how to save lives and property,” he said.
“We went to the Christian Council, the National Commission for Civic Education and the Ministry of Climate Change and Sustainability, among others, for the education,” he added.
Dr Asuman acknowledged that although some institutions had begun implementing preventive measures, the intensity and duration of the recent rains presented an enormous challenge.
“Some areas I could see they were working towards it. I can’t say the institutions didn’t do their work, but at least I know there were some efforts ongoing,” he stated.
He, however, noted that the scale of the rainfall meant that even extensive preparations might not have been sufficient to prevent the flooding.
“The way the rains came, no matter how the government prepared, it might still not have been enough,” he said.
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