NADMO Central conducts safety audits across schools to strengthen disaster preparedness

The Central Regional Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has intensified efforts to improve safety in educational institutions by undertaking comprehensive hazard identification, risk assessments, and safety audits across schools in the region.

The exercise, which covers basic, secondary, and tertiary institutions across the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), forms part of NADMO's proactive strategy to prevent disasters, safeguard lives, and protect educational infrastructure.

The inspection team is being led by the Deputy Regional Director (Public Relations), Hon. Samuel Essel Duku, and the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mrs. Jane Adu Sekyim. They are supported by MMDA Directors, field officers, zonal officers, and Disaster Volunteer Groups (DVGs), who are conducting detailed assessments at schools throughout the region.

During the inspections, the teams evaluate a wide range of potential hazards that could threaten the safety of students, teachers, and school property. Particular attention is being given to the structural integrity of school buildings, including roofing conditions, ceiling stability, wall cracks, foundation defects, drainage systems, and flood-prone areas. The assessments also cover environmental, fire, and biological hazards that may pose risks within school environments.

According to NADMO, the exercise is aimed at identifying vulnerabilities before they develop into major disasters, ensuring that educational institutions remain safe spaces for teaching and learning.

At the conclusion of each inspection, school authorities and the relevant Ghana Education Service (GES) district offices receive detailed technical reports outlining identified hazards, recommended corrective measures, and priority repairs. These reports are intended to promote institutional accountability while guiding school management and stakeholders in implementing timely interventions.

Some of the schools inspected include Mfantsipim School and several other educational institutions within Cape Coast and across the Central Region.

NADMO believes that regular safety audits and early intervention remain essential to reducing disaster risks, protecting lives, and preserving valuable educational infrastructure across Ghana's schools.