Obuasi, July 7, GNA - The government has released building materials totaling 47.2

million cedis to disaster victims in the Obuasi municipality and the Adansi North district of the Ashanti Region.

The items, some of which have been distributed to the beneficiaries through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), included 300 bags of cement, 20 packets of roofing sheets, 16 boxes of roofing and 84 boxes of ordinary nails and 400 pieces of roofing board. Mr Marcellus Kow Freiku, the Obuasi Municipal Co-ordinator of NADMO announced this at Obuasi on Wednesday when 11 disaster victims were presented with their materials.

He said the beneficiaries were the people who were affected by fire outbreaks and windstorms during the past two years. Mr Freiku said already disaster victims in the Akrokerri, Fomena and Dompoase zones had received their materials with additional supply of building materials by the Adansi North District Assembly. The NADMO Co-ordinator said due to general sensitisation programme, the organisation and the two assemblies embarked upon assessment of cost of disasters reduced from 199 million cedis in 2003 to 65 million cedis in 2004. Mr Freiku, who is also responsible for Adansi North, noted that the major disasters in the area were fire outbreaks and rainstorm and therefore advised against the misuse of electrical appliances. Mr Joe Boampong, the Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive who presented the items to the beneficiaries, warned against the selling of those items, stressing that, "the items are meant to cushion some of your problems and that you have to use them for the intended purpose." He advised the beneficiaries to guide against acts that caused the outbreak of fires in their homes, adding that they should try to avoid such disasters by ensuring the proper use of irons, fans and other electrical gadgets.

Mr Mohammed Briamah, one of the beneficiaries thanked the government for the gesture, saying it was going to help them a lot.