The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipality (KEEA) spearheaded a clean-up exercise in Komenda today. The initiative commemorated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).
The exercise, which saw the collaborative effort of the KEEA disaster management team and the municipal sanitation office, targeted key public areas to improve sanitation and mitigate potential health and environmental hazards. The teams worked diligently to clean the Komenda market, the local hospital, the traditional council, the town hall, and the principal streets throughout the township.
The event, monitored by VOK Ghana, underscored its role as a vital community engagement effort.
In an exclusive interview, the Director of NADMO-KEEA, Mr. Edward Sortoh Akakpo, articulated the core philosophy behind the exercise. He emphasized that disaster management is fundamentally about prevention.
"NADMO is an organization that works to prevent disasters. We shouldn't wait for a disaster to occur before we act," Mr. Akakpo stated. "We took this opportunity on the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, under the theme 'Fund Resilience, Not Disaster,' to ensure the entire Komenda township is clean, because 'cleanliness is next to godliness.'"
Looking ahead, the director also announced plans for the grand durbar to officially mark the IDDRR, scheduled for the 21st of October, 2025, in Elmina. The event is expected to draw high-profile dignitaries, including
· The Member of Parliament for KEEA, Hon. Samuel Atta-Mills;
· The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr. Ismail Saeed-Zagoon;
· The Central Regional NADMO Director, Mr. Emmanuel K. Dawood;
· The Chief of Bantuma, Nana Kwame Eku.
Today's Komenda clean-up tangibly implements the IDDRR's global theme by shifting from reactive disaster response to building resilient communities. This NADMO-KEEA initiative sets a positive precedent for ongoing community involvement in municipal risk reduction.