Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - The National Platform for Disaster Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Risk Reduction Management Committee (CCRM) was launched in Accra on Thursday.

The 50-member committee would ensure mitigation of the consequences of disasters through policy formulation, education, consultation and coordin= ate activities of the community, districts, regional and national disaster management committees. Mr. Yaw Oduro Amoako, Chairman of the Geological Sub-committee of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), speaking at the launch= ing said earthquake, a forgotten occurrence in Ghana, could be devastating wh= en it occurred because of its rarity but Weija and Nyanyanu were most susceptible areas. He said: "we should not be complacent about the long periods earthqu= ake occurs in Ghana, especially when Accra metropolis is earthquake prone. In=

1615, 1636, 1862 and 1939 there were moments of grief when earth-tremor rocked some parts of the Gold Coast".

Mr. Amoako said in 1939, when the earth tremor occurred in Accra, 17=

people died, 133 sustained injuries and Osu Castle, the seat of governmen= t had its roof ripped off. He called on civil engineers to design buildings that would reduce t= he impact of earthquakes.

Mr. Amoako said policy formulation by the committee would not be undertaken in isolation but grafted into the global, continental, nationa= l, urban, sub-urban and local perspectives to design a unified and coordinat= ed techniques to manage disasters. Dr. Cecilia Bentsi, Member of the committee, called on government to=

provide financial resources for effective management of disasters. "Financial commitment is important for the committee to reduce the impact of disasters on the vulnerable and cost of sustainable development= ", she said. Mr. Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of NADMO, said community consultation was critical to reduce the consequences of disasters to the barest minimum however, when it occurred, the impact must be considerably=

reduced and managed. 15 Oct. 09