Accra: The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has relaunched the National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM) to coordinate efforts and build a more resilient Ghana. This initiative aims to transform the country's approach from reactive disaster response to proactive risk reduction.
According to Ghana News Agency, the relaunch is supported by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) through the Resilience Initiative Africa project. The UNDRR Global Assessment Report 2023 highlights a significant increase in disaster events, nearly doubling since 2000, with projections indicating an annual rise to 560 events by 2030 if current trends continue.
Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, Director-General of NADMO, emphasized the platform's role in ending incoherent and duplicated actions among agencies. He noted that the platform would establish structures and objectives to prioritize preparedness, which is more cost-effective than response and recovery.
Ms. Isabel Njihia, Programme Management Officer for Risk Governance at UNDRR, Regional Office for Africa, highlighted the platform's critical role. She stated that it represents a move from commitment to tangible impact, serving as a permanent coordination mechanism that integrates disaster reduction into national development planning.
Ms. Njihia further explained that the platform would enhance risk governance, promote evidence-based decision-making, and help mobilize resources from various financing mechanisms, including the Green Climate Fund.
Ms. Charlotte Norman, Director for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction at NADMO, addressed the challenges Ghana faces, particularly flooding in Accra. She explained that the platform would bring stakeholders together, moving beyond isolated interventions by individual institutions.
The revitalized National Platform for DRR and Climate Change Risk Management (CCRM) will serve as Ghana's central coordination mechanism, ensuring coherence between national policies, sectoral strategies, and subnational action. It will facilitate the harmonization of DRR, CCA, and sustainable development processes, aligning with international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), the Paris Agreement, and the African Union's Agenda 2063.
