Regional News of Sunday, 17 October 2004

Source: GNA

Public asked to seek technical advice before putting up buildings

Twifo Praso (C/R), Oct. 17, GNA - Reverend Ben Donkor, Presiding Member of Twifo-Hemang-Lower-Denkyira District Assembly on Thursday, attributed the high incidence of disasters to poor construction of buildings, particularly houses, and indiscriminate tree felling. He advised the public to endeavour to seek technical advice before constructing buildings to help curb these preventable disasters. Rev. Donkor gave the advice at a forum organised by the district office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), at Twifo-Nyinase to mark the celebration of International Disaster Day. He also advised communities to plant trees to serve as windbreaks and institute measures to stem indiscriminate tree felling.

Rev. Donkor was not happy about NADMO's performance in the district, and urged it to regularly educate the people on disaster management and not only wait to do so on such occasions.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Abraham Odoom in his contribution, appealed to the chiefs and people in the district, to help find a solution the falling standard of education in the district. An official of NADMO, Mr Isaac Okyere was unhappy about the lack of behavioural change, in spite of the education on HIV/AIDS, and stressed the need for sound moral behaviour if the spread of the pandemic could be curbed.

Mr Prince Arhin, the district co-ordinator of NADMO said, lack of funds was hindering the organisation from undertaking education campaigns and appealed to the government to provide adequate resources for its activities.

In an open forum, the chiefs and people expressed their appreciation for the government for initiating a number of projects like schools and clinics in the district and pledged their support to the government.