Accra, Aug. 30, GNA-The British Army's Joint Civil Military Co-operation (CIMIC) group, on Thursday stressed the need to improve the National Disaster Management Organisation's (NADMO) effectiveness and that of other relevant organizations in coordinating disaster preparedness plan.

Lieutenant Colonel Richard Brown, Leader of the group said, NADMO's mission, role and scope of activities must also be promulgated to all stakeholders to aid understanding and clarify expectations. He said this when he presented the final report on a preparedness exercise dubbed: "Exercise Ahoboa" to test the country's readiness towards Emergency response in the event of an earthquake disaster in some parts of Accra. The report was the culmination of a three-week exercise in support of NADMO by the CIMIC group during which, information and data were captured from visits to 72 separate organizations related to disaster management.

The exercise was the collaboration between the Ghana Armed Forces, NADMO, Non Governmental Organisations and local stakeholders. Lt.-Col. Brown said during the exercise the team examined and discussed key areas of emergency preparedness within realistic disaster settings to develop a better-shared understanding of disaster management and response co-ordinating and linkages between relevant organizations. He, therefore, called on related organization to step up intensive public education on disaster management as the public would be the first to have the immediate effect of any future disaster. Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister of the Interior, in a speech read for him, said it was the ardent desire of government to help build the capacity of NADMO and all the stakeholder agencies for effective 'Rapid Response to Emergencies' and would continue to support training programmes at all levels to attain the ultimate goal.

He, therefore, urged NADMO and its collaborating agencies to sustain the spirit and enthusiasm that the exercise has generated by conducting regular exercises on the various disaster types in the country.

He said such exercises would enable the country to get adequately prepared to handle any emergency situation that might occur in any part of the country.

Mr. George Isaac Amoo, National Co-ordinator, NADMO, said the exercise had enhanced their quality of skills and would put them in a better position to tackle any future disaster effectively. He said, the exercise was an experience for the stakeholders and was grateful to the CIMIC group and pledged the organisation's readiness to live up to expectation.