Speaking at the Core Course program for Humanitarian Assistance for West Africa, the Deputy Director-General of NADMO in charge of Technical services and Reforms, Seji Saji Amedonu, said there should be a well mapped out plan on the collection and distribution of relief items.

[contextly_sidebar id=”7feHIpTTZf1fSZhEI6MSagQKO7BBnlqk”]He noted that the best step ECOWAS should take in the direction of disaster management is to have a standby emergency response team capable of responding to disasters on time.

“For ECOWAS to mitigate the impact of emergencies, ECOWAS should have all the database of all the humanitarian assistance capabilities of all members to know which member states to fall on for a particular support,” he said.

Several states in West Africa donated relief items to Sierra Leone following a mudslide that claimed several lives in that country in 2017.

The National Disaster Management Organisation [NADMO] in 2015, said it would help set up a National Disaster Management Fund and also improve on picking up early warning signals.

NADMO pushes for L.I. to improve disaster management

Meanwhile, NADMO says it is in the process of presenting a proposal to Parliament for a legislative instrument that will regulate the construction of buildings in the country, and make sure every institution has a disaster management plan.

According to NADMO, most buildings are structurally deficient, making them prone to disasters.

The National Disaster Management Organization [NADMO], says it is in the process of presenting a proposal to Parliament for a legislative instrument that will regulate the construction of buildings in the country, and make sure every institution has a disaster management plan.

According to NADMO, most buildings are structurally deficient, making them prone to disasters.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NADMO urges sub-regional collaboration in disaster managment appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to NADMO, most buildings are structurally deficient, making them prone to disasters.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hIqNevOlrz7KGVWojWHM2ny0fAHIJ4WH”]Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Director of NADMO in charge of Technical and Reforms, Seji Saji Amedonu, said he is optimistic the law would be passed by end of the year to reduce the enormous effects of disasters on these buildings.

“All public institutions would have to meet some disaster management requirement, which is captured in the new law, Act 927. In a new public building, you must have a water hydrant, you must have a proper exit so that in case there is any problem the management of the situation will not be too difficult,” he said.

According to him, what NADMO is doing is to provide a new law that ensures that property owners have every requirement before they put up the building.

“The new law gives us the mandate to make sure every institution has a disaster management plan, NADMO is now going to issue another certification, so that you present your plan to NADMO if it is a public building, so NADMO will look at it and find out whether your plan  meets disaster management requirement, so there will be inspection too after the approval of the plan,” he said.

The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), says it has intensified its educational programmes to ensure the safety of lives and properties ahead of the rainy season.

“This year, it is looking like the rains are coming in much earlier than expected, quite a number of the flood we have is as a result of man-made activities, sanitation issue is one,” he said.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NADMO pushes for L.I. to improve disaster management appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a core course program on Humanitarian Assistance in West Africa, the Deputy Director General of NADMO in charge of Technical and Reforms, Seji Saji Amedonu, said his outfit was collaborating with local authorities to enforce building and sanitation laws in order to prevent any form of disasters this year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oXJPvbUpayI0OiYb5ojSBEigsT72aFVG”]“This year, it is looking like the rains are coming in much earlier than expected, quite a number of the flood we have is as a result of man-made activities, sanitation issue is one,” he said.

He said the educational programmes for this year will cover all the districts, and that every assembly will tackle sanitation issues critically to prevent any disastrous flooding.

Mr. Samuel Atta-Akyea, Minister of Works and Housing, has also revealed that government has put together a road-map to provide permanent infrastructure solution to the perennial flooding in Accra.

He explained that because the capital expenditure for the provision of the drainage and sewage to fix the recurring floods are beyond the national budget, there is the need to seek external help to address the problem.

Mr. Atta-Akyea said this on the second day of the debate on the 2018 budget statement in Parliament.

He said it will cost the country over $700 million to effectively and permanently deal with the perennial flooding in Greater Accra Region alone.

“My only new approach will be finding money. The engineering sense won’t change. We are not going to reinvent the wheel. The engineers have put together the solution. All we need to do as a solution is to get the cash. If you have the money, the engineers will just roll out the plans and they will start working and you won’t see this again.”

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NADMO adopts safety measures ahead of rainy season appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on The Big Issue, Inusah Fuseini claimed that despite the other tougher sanctions that could have been handed to the Minister including dismissal and possible arrest for obstructing justice, the President chose the “milder course of action” because of his intentions to reinstate the Minister

This, the Tamale Central legislator described as unfortunate, stating that people must be held responsible for their actions.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xtGn5b6XdJ0zi8gFHEqEse0UH5gQ0Fsx”]“As the head of this country, with the Executive power vested in him and all the investigative authorities reporting to him, he ought to have had a reasonable idea of the involvement of the minister in this particular case. So if it is about commitment to enforcing the rule of law and when information gets to you that the Minister facilitated the commission of the offence, what you do is that, you sack him,” he said.

A group of angry youth purported to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) besieged the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on Wednesday evening and chased out the Regional Director, Isaac Seidu.

Mr Seidu escaped unhurt, but his personal assistant, Osman Seidu was beaten to a pulp and rushed to the Upper West Regional Hospital.

The staff of the Organization laid down their tools in solidarity with their boss but have since returned to work.

President Nana Akufo-Addo then suspended the Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan after reports emerged that he prevented the arrest of three of the men involved in the attack.

And according to Inusah Fuseini, the Minister’s involvement in the incident and his protection of the assailants made him an accessory to their crime, an offence which merited more than a suspension.

“Listening to the NADMO official, they said that the regional minister was a threat to their life, so from the NADMO, so from the NADMO officers account, the minister is involved in the commission of the act,” he said.

Legal issues

Some colleagues of Inusah Fuseini have also expressed misgivings about the President’s decision to suspend the regional Minister.

However, their arguments stem from apparent breaches of the Constitution by Nana Akufo-Addo.

The leader of the Minority in Parliament described the directive for Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq to act in the stead of the suspended Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan as unconstitutional.

While commending the decision taken by the President to suspend the Regional Minister, Haruna Iddrisu stated that, it was imperative that the President does not breach the Constitution in his effort to address the situation.

“We welcome the swiftness of the President’s action against the Regional Minister for attempting to [frustrate efforts] at getting an end to the lawlessness in the country by the masquerading NPP youth in that region and other parts of the country. But the President himself is a respected legal practitioner and must do what is appropriate legally and constitutionally within the meaning of the Supreme Court ruling on the status of deputy Ministers. It is wrong in law and constitutionally for the deputy Minister to be asked to acting in the absence of the regional Minister,” Haruna Iddrisu said.

Meanwhile the member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has also described the president’s decision as unconstitutional, insisting that he should have dismissed the Minister

He suggested that there was the need to seek the Court’s view on the matter.

“We can raise it on the floor of Parliament and debate it, but that doesn’t also give finality to the matter. It’s the courts that will give finality. The only way to obtain some finality is to go to the courts and test then Constitution in relation to the conduct of the President. Perhaps by [Friday] morning the President would have thought through it, realized he has done the wrong thing and reverse his decision. If he doesn’t then of course, there might be a need to challenge his actions and either myself or somebody else who has the space may decide to do that,” he said in an interview.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nana Addo should’ve sacked U/West Minister – Inusah Fuseini appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The five; Nuhu Suglo, Seidu Salifu, Abdullai Hakeem, Osman Jamal and Bongaamwini are to reappear in court on February 9.

[contextly_sidebar id=”tzSIuvtTiteGCHNkhfvzb4cMv3lm1YEb”]They have been charged with four counts of assault, conspiracy to commit a crime, threat to harm and stealing.

Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan was reported to have ordered the release of some suspects who were arrested.

He subsequently sent the suspects to the Upper West regional Police Headquarters the next for questioning in relation to the attack but was suspended by the President hours later.

The Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Daniel Yeboah, prayed the Court to remand the suspects until police conclude investigations on the matter.

‘Youth attack NADMO office’

About 30 angry youth affiliated to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed NADMO’s office on Wednesday in an attempt to beat up all the staff.

In an attempt to break into the Regional Director’s office, his aid prevented them for a short while, but they eventually overpowered him. Police was later called in to intervene in the situation but they were prevented from effecting any arrest by the Regional Minister.

President Akufo-Addo later on Thursday suspended the Regional Minister.

A statement from the presidency said the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq, will act in the stead of the suspended regional Minister pending the conclusion of an investigation of the incident, according to a statement from the Presidency.

The statement added that “President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.”

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By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 5 NPP youth remanded for attack on U/West NADMO office appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The workers on Thursday, declared an indefinite strike to protest the Minister’s shielding of some New Patriotic Party (NPP) thugs who besieged their workplace on Wednesday evening, chased out their  boss, and injured his personal assistant.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YJHpoUsgkcvMl2k9oZhcl8reRA8mtwej”]The staff said they would not resume work until the Minister ensured that the thugs were arrested and dealt with accordingly.

When Citi News visited the NADMO premises on Friday, the workers had returned to work and were going about their normal activities.

The  NADMO’s Regional Public Relations Officer, Erica Sieyi, told Citi News that, they had returned to work upon the plea of their director.

“We are all at work doing our normal activities. We were called upon by our regional director to come to work so we are back.”

Some of the workers who spoke on condition of anonymity told Citi News they were satisfied with the Minister’s suspension, and demanded that the attackers be duly punished.

‘5 suspects in Police custody’

The Upper West Regional Police Command picked up five persons alleged to have masterminded the attack.

The five, according to Citi News sources at the Command, were sent to the police station by the suspended Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan, at about 1:00pm on Thursday, February 1, 2018.

This happened few hours before the Regional’s suspension was announced.

They are Bongaawmini Issahaku, Abdullah Hakim, Nuhu Suglo, Seidu Salifu and Osman Kamal, who is reported to be the leader of the group.

‘Youth attack NADMO office’

About 30 angry youth affiliated to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) stormed NADMO’s office on Wednesday in an attempt to beat up all the staff.

In an attempt to break into the Regional Director’s office, his aid prevented them for a short while, but they eventually overpowered him. Police were later called in to intervene in the situation but they were prevented from effecting any arrest by the Regional Minister.

Regional Minister suspended

President Akufo-Addo later on Thursday suspended the Regional Minister.

A statement from the presidency said the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq, will act in the stead of the suspended regional Minister pending the conclusion of an investigation of the incident, according to a statement from the Presidency.

The statement added that, “President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.”

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By: Latif Mahama& Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/W: NADMO staff call off strike after minister’s suspension appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The five, according to Citi News sources at the Command, were sent to the police station by the Upper West Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan, at about 1:00pm today [Thursday] February 1, 2018.

[contextly_sidebar id=”n6eNHKReEpmfgw2yLKJniUYnvaYffRbl”]They include Bongaawmini Issahaku, Abdullah Hakim, Nuhu Suglo,Seidu Salifu and Osman Kamal, who is reported to be the leader of the group.

Superintendent Huseini Musah Awinaaba, Upper West Regional Crime Officer of the Ghana Police Service, told Citi News that the suspects have been kept in police custody pending investigations.

He said the police are on a manhunt for some other individuals who played various roles in the attack that left the NADMO Director’s aide seriously injured as he was beaten to pulp.

Regional Minister suspended

Meanwhile, President Nana Akufo-Addo has suspended the Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan.

This followed reports that he protected the angry youth believed to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who carried out the attack at the NADMO office.

The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq, will act in the stead of the suspended regional Minister pending the conclusion of an investigation of the incident, according to a statement from the Presidency.

The statement added that, “President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.”

NADMO staff on strike

At about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the youth from the Wa East district, numbering about 30, arrived in two pickups and a minibus at the NADMO office at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.

After the police got to the scene of the disturbances and effected the arrest of three persons, Alhassan Suleiman ordered the release of the suspects.

He reportedly told the police that ” This is a party matter, I will have a meeting with them and get back to you”.  After that, the attackers walked home freely.

Following the incident, workers of NADMO declared a strike today [Thursday], and demanded that until the suspects are arrested, they will not return to work.

They  slammed the Regional Minister, whose duty is to protect citizens as the Regional Chairman of the Security Council, for choosing to shield the attackers.

Political vigilantism in Upper West

This incident marks the third major disturbance perpetrated by youth aligned to the NPP in Upper West Region in the last few months.

On January 22, some NPP youth in the Wa municipality vandalized the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru.

The rampaging youth also vandalized the family house of the MCE and two other houses belonging to his supporters.

In November 2017, NPP youth in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District stormed the precinct of the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office.

They had accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

After the Wa incident, seven NPP supporters were arrested and charged with rioting, including the Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP.

Sulemana Alhassan defended similar attack on Sissala West DCE

The suspended Minister, who doubles as the Chairman of the Regional Security Council, REGSEC, in October 2017, downplayed a similar incident at the office of the Sissala West District Chief Executive, where rowdy New Patriotic Party youth boldly locked up the office of the public officer.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Alhassan, who did not emphatically condemn the action of the youth, described it as a “small hitch between some party youth and the District Chief Executive for Sisala West that led to the youth locking up the office.”

Defending his stance on the matter, the Minister said that “even though [the youth’s storming the office] was not legal, they didn’t cause any damage to any property. They didn’t cause any harm to anybody” he insisted.

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By: Latiff Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Five NPP youth arrested for attacking U/West NADMO boss appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They say the Minister demonstrated that he did not value their lives as he prevented the arrest of some angry party youth who stormed the organization’s office on Wednesday in an attempt to beat up all the staff.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lXMvodjBjcMiPXA0Rcs5IM3mIr2nqRyA”]The workers, led by the Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, Erica Sieyi, while addressing the press on Thursday morning, vowed that they will not return to work until the youth are arrested.

The attack on the offices of NADMO led to the aide to the Regional Director being admitted at the Upper West Regional after they beat him to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appears to be the main target of the attack, however, escaped unhurt.

Erica Sieyi, in her address, said, “our lives are not safe due to the attack yesterday [Wednesday] from a group of individuals.”

She recalled that “On the 31^st January 2018, at about 4:55pm, a group of people numbering about 30, arrived at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) forecourt in cars. These angrily looking people besieged the regional office of NADMO seeking to beat up all NADMO staff… In an attempt to break into the Regional Director’s office, his aid prevented them for a short while, but they eventually overpowered him…The police were called to intervene in the situation. They came to arrest some of the individuals but the Regional Minister prevented their arrest.”

According to her, “this situation is worrying, annoying and unprofessional.”

She said the Minister’s conduct indicated that “he doesn’t care about our lives. It also sends us a message that the Regional Minister Alhaji Sulemana Alhassana will at any time choose the interest of some few people over the safety of his workers.”

The NADMO staff, who have effectively declared a strike from today [Thursday], said “until the people are arrested, we are not coming back to work. Our lives are not safe.”

Political vigilantism in Upper West

This incident marks the third major disturbance perpetrated by youth aligned to the NPP in Upper West Region in the last few months.

On January 22, some NPP youth in the Wa municipality vandalized the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru.

The rampaging youth also vandalized the family house of the MCE and two other houses belonging to his supporters.

In November 2017, NPP youth in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District stormed the precinct of the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office.

They had accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

After the Wa incident, seven NPP supporters were arrested and charged with rioting, including the Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Striking NADMO staff angry with Minister for shielding NPP thugs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Youth, believed to be from the Wa East Constituency branch also injured his Special Assistant, who was beaten to pulp.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ChT4lWskC2Ld0dAqf1Kvqw45jNaQiZSS”]The cause of the attack is however not immediately known.

Citi News’ Latif Mahama reported that, although the Police in the area came in promptly to maintain law and order, Isaac Seidu and his Special Assistant had been wounded in the attack.

The Special Assistant is currently receiving treatment at the Upper West Regional Hospital.

Three people were subsequently arrested for their role in the attack, but to the surprise of many, the Regional Minister, Sulemana Alhassan ordered their release with the excuse that it is a party matter.

But the staff of NADMO, at a press conference on Thursday said the conduct of the Regional Minister was worrying.

They have therefore vowed not to return to work until the perpetrators are arrested.

Political vigilantism in Upper West

This incident marks the third major disturbance perpetrated by youth aligned to the NPP in Upper West Region in the last few months.

On January 22, some NPP youth in the Wa municipality vandalized the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru.

The rampaging youth also vandalized the family house of the MCE and two other houses belonging to his supporters.

In November 2017, NPP youth in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District stormed the precinct of the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office.

They had accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

After the Wa incident, seven NPP supporters were arrested and charged with rioting, including the Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP.

–

By: Latif Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post UW/Region: NADMO staff declare strike over attack on boss appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, Eric Arthur, the long delay was due to the non-existence of a NADMO board to sanction the purchasing and supply of the items.

In June this year, a downpour caused the Offin River to overflow its banks destroying some buildings and other properties of many residents of Dunkwa-on-Offin.

The displaced and distressed victims were registered by NADMO and had since been housed in a temporary shelter awaiting relief items from the Municipal and Regional authorities for the last few months.

On September 6, the Governing Board of NADMO was eventually sworn in by the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, to spearhead the activities of the organization under the Act 927 (2016).

Items presented to the victims include 200 bags of cement, fifty bags of rice, 250 mattresses, twenty mini cartons of soap, mosquito nets and thirty blankets.

Other items were 100 rubber buckets, 100 rubber basins, four bales of used clothes and twenty cartons of cooking oil.

Presenting the items, the Central Regional Director of NADMO, James Appiah Mensah, charged the newly appointed district Director of NADMO for Dunkwa-on-Offin and his officials to ensure that all disaster victims who were duly registered are allocated the relief items.

He further urged the victims to exercise patience since more items may be brought to them later.

Speaking to Citi News, the Regional PRO admitted the frustrations of the victims as a result of the delay but added, “The Regional Director together the Municipal Assembly has been assisting them, but it was not enough, so we registered them and counselled them”.

He further stated the work of NADMO goes beyond the supply of relief items, and that the organization will also be visiting the victims and counsel them as they recover from the distress the disaster caused them.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Dunkwa flood victims receive relief items after six months appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.