The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has admitted to facing critical financial constraints in its efforts to prevent and manage flooding in the Ashanti Region.
Mr. Charles Oppong, Deputy Director for NADMO, made this known during an interview on the Orange Sunrise Show with host Alfa Ali. He explained that while the organization is operationally ready, inadequate funding remains a major hurdle.
“We Are Ready, But Inadequate” — NADMO Deputy Director
When asked about NADMO’s capacity to fulfill its core duties—prevention, control, and disaster management—Mr. Oppong replied, “Well, we are ready, but inadequate.”
He elaborated that NADMO has sufficient human resources, with staff deployed across various regions. “We have men on the ground across the region. So that aspect of human resource is available, so we are ready on that.”
The deputy director noted that in terms of equipment, NADMO is well-placed thanks to support from the District Road Improvement Program (DRIP). “With the help of DRIP, the machines are available,” he said, indicating that excavators and other heavy-duty equipment are accessible for use in flood-prone areas.
Transport and Fueling Equipment Pose Key Challenges
Despite the availability of equipment, NADMO struggles to deploy it due to financial limitations. “To convey all this equipment to a flood area, maybe from one district or from one municipal to a flood-prone site… you need a low bed to carry all this equipment,” he said.
According to Mr. Oppong, transporting machinery like excavators to affected areas requires significant funding for fuel and logistics. “Our critical challenge or constraint has to do with finance to aid the fueling for these machines.”
He appealed to stakeholders, businesses, and philanthropic organisations to support NADMO, especially those located within flood-prone areas. He referenced specific locations like Anloga Junction, Jofel, and the Kumasi Airport area, warning that flooding in these areas would cripple movement and halt business operations.
“Should the flood happen within this area, all these businesses will be standstill. Movement becomes impassable. Even animals cannot move,” Mr. Oppong stressed.
NADMO Identifies Flood-Prone Areas in Kumasi
Alfa Ali further questioned NADMO’s preparedness regarding identifying and mapping flood-risk zones. In response, Mr. Oppong confirmed the existence of a regional flood map at NADMO’s office.
He mentioned that the organisation had already held meetings with various key stakeholders, including the mayor, police, and fire service officials, to discuss measures against flooding. However, he admitted that permanent solutions, such as demolishing structures on waterways, are difficult to implement.
“If you want to prevent flood, meaning there should be some demolition sites,” he said.
Mr. Oppong also stated that within the Asokwa District alone, NADMO has identified about nine flood-prone areas. He emphasized the need for collective action from both the government and the public to ensure flood prevention and emergency response efforts are successful.
As Ghana’s rainy season intensifies, NADMO continues to advocate for support in addressing the region’s disaster vulnerabilities, particularly flooding, which remains a recurrent threat.
