Include persons with disabilities in disaster plans – Northern Regional Minister
The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John Mburidiba, has called for urgent and deliberate action to ensure that disaster risk management systems in the country fully accommodate the needs of persons with disabilities.
He said this would ensure that persons with disabilities were protected wherever they found themselves at risk from disasters.
The minister made the call at a sensitisation workshop on Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management Guidelines held in Tamale on Thursday.
The workshop was organised by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to promote inclusivity in building resilient communities for persons with disabilities across the country. It also formed part of broader national efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure that no segment of the population was left behind in times of crisis.
The workshop brought together stakeholders from NADMO, security agencies, heads of public institutions, civil society organisations, representatives of persons with disabilities, as well as traditional and religious leaders and members of the media.
Mr John described the workshop as both timely and necessary, given the region’s vulnerability to disasters such as floods, droughts, disease outbreaks, fire incidents, and communal conflicts.
He noted that although disasters affected entire communities, their impact was not evenly distributed. He explained that women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities often suffered disproportionately due to systemic barriers that limited their access to early warning systems, evacuation plans, relief support, and recovery processes.
The minister said these challenges stemmed from the fact that historically, systems and infrastructure in the country were not designed with inclusivity in mind.
Mr John said the government of Ghana, through policies and legal frameworks such as the Persons with Disabilities Act and the mandate of NADMO, had developed the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management Guidelines to address these gaps.
He described the guidelines as a practical step towards ensuring that persons with disabilities were actively considered and protected at all stages of disaster management.
A staff of NADMO, Mr Bright Elorm, stated that the primary objective of the workshop was to equip regional and district stakeholders with the knowledge and practical capacity to implement the guidelines effectively.
He said this would ensure that inclusivity became a core component of disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery efforts.
FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, TAMALE
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
