General News of Saturday, 4 June 2016

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

We don't take public safety seriously - Expert

File photo: June 3 disaster site File photo: June 3 disaster site

A public safety expert with the Bureau of Public Safety, Nana Yaw Akwada said that Ghana does not take public safety seriously.

Speaking to Nyankonton Mu Nsem in a special interview as part of the first anniversary celebration of the June 3 disaster, and some other major disasters in the country, he said, the country lacks when it comes to public safety.

He decried the non-existence of a policy document to manage such disasters in the country.

Mr. Akwada indicated that, it is extremely worrying that leadership has failed to design a policy document to ensure that, victims and survivors of disasters in the country are assisted.

He also expressed his disappointment in authorities for failing to publish findings of the June 3 disaster, a year after the incident.

In his view, the publication of such a report, will help stakeholders draw up strategies to meet such disasters in future.

According to him, authorities are only interested in the use of knee jerk approaches in solving challenges in the country when they have to rather draw up a policy document to manage our challenges.

Government he opined must consult other stakeholders to ensure that, it develops a primary goal of protecting the public and keeping them safe.

Public safety he explained further refers to the welfare and protection of the general public, and a governmental responsibility with broad consultation of its people.