Global Mission Readiness, an American based organization which provides emergency services education and resources to developing countries is to train the personnel of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in the Afigya Kwabre District in the Ashanti region. The programme which will cover training of volunteers and staff of the NADMO office in the district is to equip them to be self reliant in providing emergency services. It is under the invitation of the Afigya Kwabre District and the Agape Village of Hope International, a local NGO. Over hundred volunteer firefighters from over eighty nine communities in the Afigya Kwabre District are expected to benefit from the phase of the program which begins in May. Bush, domestic and institutional fires top the list of disasters in the area. The group has since its formation in 2009 at Oregon provided eleven international emergency training missions in seven different countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Peru, and Vietnam among others. It would be the first time the organization will be providing training in Ghana and on African soil. But the visit is expected to bring education by providing courses in basic first aid, fire service training, specialty rescue, and disaster preparedness by trained, veteran firefighters and medical professionals. Six officials of Global Mission Readiness made up of five fire fighters from Oregon State in America are expected in the Afigya Kwabre District. They will include Tim Barbknecht and Josh Gehrke from Clackamas Fire District along with Ed Resch and Chris Barney from Portland Fire & Rescue. Chief Executive and Founder, Don Davis III said “we have had the opportunity to see how this training makes an unbelievable difference in peoples’ lives.” He is happy GMR is able to extend its services outside Europe and the Americas and expressed the hope that the visit will yield more fruits. "These teaching missions break down cultural barriers, increase positive relations with other countries, and most importantly, save lives. Students of our courses have reported that they have used the skills learned from our classes to save the lives of others" he said. District Chief Executive for Afigya Kwabre, Kaakkyire Oppong Kyekyeku is happy the training will strengthen the human capacity base of the local NADMO office while instilling the spirit of readiness and awareness in providing emergency services. Describing the training as timely, Mr. Oppong Kyekyeku said it will cushion the district in its efforts to push for establishment of a fire station in that peri-urban district. Meanwhile, the Agape Village of Hope International has commended the District Chief Executive for the area for what it describes as "innovative leadership’’. It’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrews Nyantakyi says the DEC’s leadership style will help attract the donor agencies and organizations to help develop the area. Story by Ohemeng Tawiah, Nhyira FM/Kumasi-Ghana