As part of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Green Africa Youth Organisation in partnership with the National Disaster Management Organization, the Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction with support from UNESCO-Ghana has called for increased investment in prevention and preparedness as part of systematic efforts to increase resilience to disasters.
Following the recent flooding situation in the Upper East Region coupled with the onset of the Harmattan season experience in the Savanna ecological zone with its attendant outbreak of bush fire and drought, there is the need for a culture of risk awareness and risk governance to manage disasters.
At a quiz competition organised for four Senior High Schools in the Northern belt on the theme: “It’s all about Governance” held at GBC Regional Station in Bolgatanga, the Programme Assistant for Green Africa Youth Organisation, Betty Osei Bonsu, stressed the need to educate the public on building a more equitable and sustainable future.
The Director of Planning Research Monitoring and Evaluation at the Head office of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Koranteng Abroakwa urged citizens to pay heed to warning of impending disaster and discouraged victims of disasters to salvage their belongings saying their lives worth much more.
Contestants from Four Senior High school comprising Bolgatanga Senior High School, who were the eventual winners to represent the Northern zone, Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School, Tamale Senior High school and Vitting Technical and Senior High School were tested on their basic knowledge on Disaster risk reduction in relation to floods, drought, earthquake and COVID-19.
The contestants from the competing school expressed satisfaction at the level of awareness gained after the exercise
Story filed by Prosper Adankai.