The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, has called for a shift from reactive disaster response to proactive investment in resilience and preparedness, emphasizing that sustainable development depends on effective disaster risk reduction.
Speaking in Accra to mark the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), celebrated under the global theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” the Minister underscored the importance of investing in preventive measures to reduce the human and economic toll of disasters.
“Every cedi spent on prevention and preparedness saves many more that would otherwise be lost to disaster response and recovery,” Alhaji Muntaka stated. “We must fund resilience, not disasters.”
He commended Ghana’s progress in advancing disaster risk management through key initiatives such as the Ghana Hydrological Authority’s flood mitigation projects and the Ghana Urban Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, which have contributed to reducing the impact of flooding and improving urban planning in vulnerable communities.
However, the Minister noted that more work remains to be done. He called for greater integration of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) into local governance systems, increased domestic financing for resilience initiatives, and the development of public-private partnerships to leverage innovation and investment in disaster preparedness.
“We need stronger collaboration among government agencies, private institutions, and communities to build systems that anticipate and withstand disasters,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Acting Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, reaffirmed NADMO’s commitment to protecting lives and modernizing the country’s emergency response systems.
He called on the public to support NADMO as government works to transform and strengthen the agency’s capacity to deliver timely and effective disaster response.
“Our goal is a more resilient Ghana — one that is prepared, not just reactive, when disasters occur,” Dr. Kuyon stated.
The International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), observed annually on October 13, is a United Nations initiative that promotes global awareness on the importance of reducing disaster risks and strengthening community resilience to natural and human-induced hazards.
Source :www.kumasimail.com
