The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) with the support of the United States Africa Command (USAFRICOM), are collaborating to enhance disaster risk reduction efforts in West Africa.

They are also examining disaster preparedness and response capacities across West African Partner Nations, under the West Africa Disaster Preparedness Initiative (WADPI) programme.

Dr Kinsford Asamoah, the Head of NADMO CREW Project made this known at the inaugural ceremony of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) and the WADPI programme in Accra.

He said the joint efforts would develop and promote inter regional integration through ensuring continued collaboration, communication and coordination, particularly, to explore preparedness strategies that can strengthen member states to manage and recover from disaster events.

He said: “While we cannot always prevent disasters as a region, we must work together to ensure West Africa is better prepared to reduce human suffering and save lives in the event of another devastating outbreak.”

Dr Asamoah said NADMO, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) are also coordinating with international partners to launch a comprehensive capacity building programme in disaster preparedness.

He said NADMO was striving to do better to have a good system in place to ensure an effective collaboration and data in West Africa, adding that, early warning, risk mapping and improved disaster management were some of the strategies to consolidate information on disaster.

Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive said the time had come for everyone to show personal responsibility in disaster prevention.