Participants at a forum to commemorate this year’s World Disaster Risk Reduction Day have called on the assembly to take practical measures to improve the drainage network in the Municipality.

The event held under the theme: “Safe Home Safe”, was organized by the Effutu Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organization in collaboration with the Effutu Assembly.

The participants made of traditional leaders, youth groups, opinion leaders, teachers, market women, called on the assembly to adopt the necessary measures to help forestall the reoccurrence of floods and destruction of properties. Mr John Ninson, the Municipal Chief Executive, said safety and the prevention of disasters is not the sole responsibility of government as every stakeholder in the society has a role to play.

He said flooding in the area is often as a result of various factors including building on waters ways and dumping refuse into drains hence the need to change our attitudes towards the environment.

Mr Ninson said there is the need for community members to rekindle their communal spirit to embark on periodic communal labour to distill choked drains to allow the free flow of water.

The MCE said the assembly has engaged the services of a heavy duty tractor to work in the area and assured the public that work will commence soon.

Mr Eugene Odoom-Poku, Technical Director of the Municipal NADMO, took the participants through a two-hour power point on disaster prevention, management disaster and area to contact when they become victims of distastes.

Mr Philip Larbi, President University of Education Red Cross Chapter, demonstrated to the participants how they can help people in emergency situations whenever a disaster occurs before taking them to hospital.

Mr K, Abbew, Head Teacher of Saint John’s Anglican JHS, who chaired the event, commended the organizers and called for the periodic organization of such programmes for people to know their responsibilities