Mamfe-Akuapem (E/R), Nov. 5, GNA - Mr Seth Ahyia, the Eastern Regional Co-ordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), on Wednesday advocated the establishment of a Disaster Fund for the management of disasters in the country.

Mr Ahyia who was speaking at the World Disaster Reduction Day, at Mamfe-Akuapem, explained that if such a fund was not created, the national budget could be over-stretched in the event of disasters.

Students from second-cycle schools in the Akuapen North District attended the celebration, which was organized under the theme "Learning from yesterday's disaster for tomorrow's hazard".

Mr Ahyia urged the media to educate the public on disaster prevention and management.

Nana Ansah Sasraku II, the Mamfehene, advised the students to study hard to enable them pass their examinations and to educate the public on how to protect the environment.

Mr Asare Boakye of the Ghana Red Cross Society said though the group was established to assist the wounded and suffering people during wartime, the Society was educating the public on good health and how to give first aid and react when disasters occurred, since Ghana was not at war.

The Akuapem North District Co-ordinator of NADMO, Mr Seth D. Otchere, appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the district to join the crusade against environmental degradation. He said there was the need to build the capacity of the citizenry in disaster preventive mechanism and management.