The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has begun intensified efforts to curb flooding in the Greater Accra Region with a series of inspections in flood-prone communities.

The exercise forms part of the organisation’s preparatory measures ahead of the rainy season and aims to ensure drains are properly desilted and maintained to effectively channel floodwaters and address the region’s persistent flooding challenges.

The inspection team is being led by NADMO’s Director-General, Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, alongside other senior officials of the organisation, with support from military officers assisting with the exercise.

Speaking to the media during the inspection, Mr Kuyon said the exercise builds on earlier assessments carried out last year, including one conducted with the President, John Dramani Mahama, to identify major flood flashpoints in Accra.

“This is not the first time we are coming here. Last year, we were here with the President of the country himself to have a look at flashpoints of flooding in Accra,” he said.

According to him, NADMO has since continued working with various stakeholders to prepare adequately before the onset of the rains.

“I have continuously, on many platforms, said that my administration's focus is not to react to disasters only. Disaster management is a process. It starts from working to prevent and putting ourselves in readiness, should any disaster occur. So it is a process and not just an event,” he stated.

Mr Kuyon explained that much of the preventive work carried out by NADMO often goes unnoticed because it takes place before disasters occur.

“We've been working behind the scenes, which is mostly not catching the media eye because it's not bad news. It only becomes public when the disaster strikes. But our focus is to work to ensure that disasters don't happen,” he said.

He added that NADMO’s Inspectorate and Operations Department has been working closely with district authorities and local administrators to address flood flashpoints and ensure drains are cleared to allow the free flow of water during heavy rains.

Mr Kuyon further indicated that the inspections are not a one-off exercise but will continue periodically as the rainy season approaches.

“So it's one of the briefings I have gotten from them that a lot has been done. But I can't sit in my office, so I have to come around and look at all that has been done compared to what we saw last year,” he noted.