- UNDRR urges Ghana to develop a comprehensive action plan for disaster response and management.
- Africa's scattered disaster response initiatives hinder progress tracking.
- Limited access to early warning systems leaves the continent vulnerable to hazards.
- UNDRR initiates project to establish Centers of Excellence for early warning and anticipatory action.
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has urged Ghana to develop a comprehensive action plan for disaster response and management. The UN notes that Ghana and Africa have scattered disaster response initiatives, making it difficult to track progress and results.
Despite progress in enhancing disaster risk reduction across the continent, Africa remains highly vulnerable to hazards that threaten development and safety. A key concern for the UN is Africa’s limited access to multi-hazard early warning systems, hindering anticipatory action and disaster preparedness.
In recent years, this issue has become increasingly critical due to the rising frequency and impacts of hazards experienced by the continent and globally. Although African countries have policies and initiatives for disaster risk reduction, lack of harmony and coordination between implementing agencies remains a significant setback.
Dr. Senyi Salack, a focal person at WASCAL, advocates for a comprehensive action plan for Ghana, emphasizing the need for a focused roadmap to enhance progress. The UNDRR, in collaboration with various organizations, has initiated a project to establish a Network of Centres of Excellence (NoE) for early warning and anticipatory action.
The project aims to strengthen institutional capacity across the continent by drawing on expertise and developing a harmonized approach to disaster risk reduction. The establishment of the Centers of Excellence is expected to enhance disaster preparedness and response in Ghana and Africa, ultimately reducing the risk of disasters and promoting sustainable development.
