INVOLVE WOMEN IN DISATER RISK REDUCTION

16-11-09 INVOLVE WOMEN IN DISATER RISK REDUCTION
The Upper East Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Patrick Akake said effect of the 2007 floods in Northern Ghana and the recent floods in parts of Southern Ghana coupled with the yearly occurrence of bushfires calls for effective disaster risk management. Mr. Akake was speaking at a Gender and Disaster Management forum at Bolgatanga. The workshop which was on the theme “Promoting Gender Responsive Culture on Climate Change, Risk Management and Reduction” was jointly organized by NADMO and ABANTU for Development, a non-governmental organisation and a regional women’s organization advocacy group. The workshop which brought together women’s groups, Personnel from the security services, Community Base Organisations, NGOs, Assembly Members, and other disaster management providers, was aimed at enhancing public understanding of gender concerns and the need in disaster risk reduction. It was also geared at increasing women’s participation in decision making in reference to disaster risk reduction and its management component. Mr. Akake, who described the theme of the occasion as appropriate, called on the need to involve women and children in disaster risk management since they are the most vulnerable in the society and the worst hit in times of disaster, citing the 2007 floods in Northern Ghana and some parts of southern Ghana, which, according to him, brought untold hardship and suffering to most women and children in the affected areas. He therefore emphasised that adherence to the adoption and implementation of the objectives of the Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction will be the surest way of ensuring disaster risk management, adding that an increased awareness and political commitment to disaster risk reduction would also serve as a way forward. Mr. Folley Jaleiba Member, ABANTU for Development, in an address, expressed the believe that since women actively contribute to the basic survival needs of families, communities and nations, there is the urgent need to involve them by building their skills and capacities for sustainable development, peace and security. Mr. Jaleiba urged the government to take action to integrate gender perspectives into disaster risk reduction legislation, policies and programmes. On his part, the Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive, Epsona Ayamga, bemoaned certain negative and socio cultural practices which he said, deprived more than 50 percent of the Ghanaian populace in serious decision making, planning and execution of projects and programmes at the various levels of policy making. Mr. Epsona appealed to all government policy makers, civil societies, traditional rulers, agencies and the youth and the marginalized to help put gender issues at the forefront to ensure fair and equitable distribution in the decision making process and active participation in governance. GBC IA/