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17.02.2005 Togo

NADMO prepares for Togolese refugees

17.02.2005 LISTEN
By GNA

Accra, Feb. 17, GNA - The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on Thursday said it has embarked on contingency measures to cater for refugees that might come from Togo to Ghana because of leadership crisis in that country.

Consequently, NADMO has identified two areas around the northern part of Jasikan and southern part of Adidome, all in the Volta Region as the possible sites to accommodate Togolese refugees should the need arose.

Brigadier-General (Rtd) Joseph Odei, National Co-ordinator of NADMO, who announced this at a media briefing said studies so far revealed a possible inflow of refugees from Togo to Ghana.

According to Brig Odei, officials from NADMO, the National Refugee Board and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) identified the sites during a tour of the boarder region to familiarise themselves with the situation.

The briefing was also to inform the media on the just ended World Conference on Disaster Reduction, which was held in Kobe, Japan from between January 18 and 22.

Brig Odei said during their tour, they found the boarder peaceful and that some water experts and other specialists from the UN were still being expected in the country to visit the sites to see how best water and electricity could be extended to the two sites.

On the disaster conference, Ghana, who was nominated by the UN to chair the Credentials Committee was represented by Brig. Odei who also spoke on the third thematic topic: "how to address the new challenges of a highly vulnerable population to the impact of disaster. Brig Odei said the conference the platform for interaction on issues related to disaster reduction and management.

"The need for educational and capacity building in various countries, the use of information systems and development of capabilities, as well as the need for wider and more effective cross-sectoral; and inter-disciplinary relationships emerged frequently throughout the thematic segment of the conference".

He said the Conference called for the mainstreaming of disaster risk reduction into sustainable development practices and the linkage of related targets to those of the Millennium Developments Goals.

He said the need for preparedness capabilities in general and the local relevant early warning system was also emphasized.

In another development, Nana Owusu Ansah, Executive Chairman of the Oguapem Enterprise Limited, a local importer of agricultural machinery donated two motor rice mixed blowers (Sprayers) at a cost of 1,000 dollars to NADMO to help in its pest control programmes.

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