Some coordinators of the National Disaster Management Organization in the Ashanti and Central regions are contemplating abandoning their posts because they have not been paid since their appointment two years ago. They are looking to other ventures to earn a living. Some of the 44 coordinators in the two regions say their inability to receive salary has placed their families in a fix. According to them, continuing to work for NADMO in the name of managing disasters where they themselves cannot manage their homes is a most disservice. Twenty-seven of the coordinators work in the Ashanti region alone with seventeen representing the Central region. Majority of the Coordinators, until their appointment two years ago were teachers employed by the Ghana Education Service while others worked for the Ghana Health Service. But they have had to battle with the sour side of life as for instance, spouses of male coordinators continue to verbally assault them consistently for their inability to financially support their homes. Nhyira FM investigations can confirm two coordinators in the Ashanti region have been jilted by their spouses for their inability to meet their families’ financial needs. They are also saddled with other challenges, including a poor transportation system, delayed release of monthly stipends of two hundred Ghana cedis to run their offices and hijacking of relief items by some District and Municipal Chief Executives. Living in hell An appointment letter for the coordinators signed by the National Coordinator of NADMO, Kofi Portuphy, dated 1st September 2009 stipulates among others that they are "hereby appointed to the position of Deputy Chief Disaster Control Officer" to "be paid an amount of three thousand two hundred and sixty-three Ghana cedis per anum in salaries." But the coordinators are afraid to go public with what they say are the miserly compensations for fear of victimization. They are also under the oath of secrecy they took before assuming office. "It’s very appalling because we were enjoying life at its best. Me and my colleagues were working for Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Health and some were into consultancy. Can you imagine what has happened", an aggrieved coordinator querried. Life without salaries within the past two years has been described by the coordinators as hell. "Look at me, as head of a family of four; I cannot even put bread and butter on the table for my family and I am constantly harassed by my wife who has threatened to leave me if I don’t perform my responsibilities as man", he explained as he shook his head. Managing disasters on empty stomachs The aggrieved coordinators say continuing to work for the NADMO in the name of managing disasters where they themselves cannot manage their homes is not reasonable. Some of the coordinators believe the time to quit NADMO is now before things get out of hand. "I cannot continue to live this way all in the name of managing disaster… Majority of my colleagues also feel that the time has come for us to leave NADMO" he said in anguish. The Ashanti Regional NADMO Coordinator, Bulamatari Mohammed confirmed the co-coordinators have not been paid their salaries since their appointment. He argued that the problem is not only peculiar to NADMO, but other public sector offices. According to him, "it is no wonder that NADMO has also fallen into that kind of trench because we are under the public sector department." Alhaji Bulamatari attributes the delay to what he describes as technical challenges. "They (national office) had wanted to facilitate the payment before the close of the year (2010). I know very well that everybody will be settled by the end of this month", Alhaji Bulamatari said. Story by: Ohemeng Tawiah/Nhyira Fm-Kumasi/ Ghana