As part of efforts towards strengthening disaster preparedness and response, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nkwanta South in the Oti Region, Joseph Antwi Awal, has inaugurated a 13-member National Disaster Management Committee, charging them to be proactive and ready to respond whenever duty calls.
Under the National Disaster Management Organisation Act, 2016 (Act 927), the newly constituted committee — inaugurated at the MCE’s office — is expected to provide strategic policy direction, harmonize institutional efforts, and enhance resilience against hazards including floods, epidemics, fires, seismic activities, and conflicts.
The committee’s mandate also includes ensuring adequate facilities for relief, rehabilitation, and recovery, securing financial and logistical support from both public and private sectors, and performing other essential functions to strengthen disaster management in the municipality.
Speaking at the ceremony, MCE Joseph Awal, who chairs the committee, said its formation is in line with Ghana’s legal and institutional framework for disaster risk management, reduction, and mitigation. He stressed the need for well-coordinated disaster governance across all levels.
“These are not just incidents; they are warnings,” he said. “They remind us that the management of disasters must never be reactive; it must be strategic, inclusive, and well-coordinated.”
He expressed concern over the recent increase in fire outbreaks and other incidents, describing them as reminders to act urgently and responsibly. The MCE called on all relevant stakeholders to collaborate to make the municipality safe, resilient, and prepared for any future disaster.
The Nkwanta South Municipal NADMO Director, Bright Gesuokon, described the inauguration as a defining step towards proactive, coordinated, and community-centred disaster management. He revealed that since 2022, the committee had not held any meetings to address disaster-related issues, underscoring the importance of its reactivation.
He urged residents to support the committee as it carries out its mandate.
The members of the 13-member committee include:
• Director, Ghana Health Service
• Director, Ghana Education Service
• Representative, Ghana Armed Forces
• Municipal Police Commander
• Municipal Fire Officer
• Municipal Information Officer
• Environmental Health Officer
• Development Planning Officer
• Social Welfare Officer
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