The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) under the Ministry of the Interior was established by ACT 517 of 1996 with the responsibility to manage disasters and similar emergencies in the country.

Profile:

In the 1980’s, it was observed that the number of disasters and their impacts were increasing worldwide. This situation alarmed the United Nation Organisation which held various conferences on the issue, leading to the UN declaration of GAD 44/236 of 1989 declaring the 1990’s as the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR).

This was followed by the conference on Natural Disaster Reduction held in Yokohama, Japan in May 1994. The conference established the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) to replace the defunct IDNDR. The Yokohama strategy for a safe world and its plan of action mandated each country to establish a permanent disaster management organization.

In response to the Yokohama strategy for a safer world and plan of action, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) was established by act 517 of 1996 to manage disasters and similar emergencies in the country. It was structured and placed under the Ministry of the Interior, to enable it coordinate all the relevant civil authorities at the national, regional and district levels. NADMO functions under a National Secretariat, ten (10) Regional secretariats, two hundred and forty-three (243) Metropolitan, Municipal and District secretariats and over nine hundred (900) Zonal offices throughout the country.

Functions:

(a) Prepare national disaster plans for preventing and mitigating the consequences of disasters;
(b)Monitor, evaluate and update national disaster plans;
(c) Ensure the establishment of adequate facilities for technical training and the institution of educational programmes to provide public awareness, warning systems and general preparedness for its staff and the general public;
(d) Ensure that there are appropriate and adequate facilities for the provision of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction after any disaster;
(e) Co-ordinate local and international support for disaster or emergency control relief services and reconstruction; and

Mandate:

The mandate of the National Disaster Management Organisation includes all activities from preparedness to response and recovery, prevent disasters, create awareness in prone communities and institutions on all hazard/disaster types, train and motivate the communities especially volunteers to initiate actions to prevent and respond to disasters; bring relief to disaster victims, assist to reduce poverty in vulnerable and poor communities through social mobilisation for employment creation and income generation.

Vision:

Building a disaster resilient Ghana.

Mission:

The Mission of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is to manage disasters by coordinating the resources of government institutions and non-governmental agencies, develop the capacity of voluntary community-based organisations to respond effectively to emergencies and improve livelihood through social mobilisation, employment generation and poverty reduction projects.

Objectives:

NADMO operations are guided by National Disaster Management Plan. The plan provides the general framework for disaster management at the strategic level. The plan also has specific action plan to ensure operational efficiency of the organization.

The objectives of the National Disaster Management Plan in Ghana are;

To strengthen the Institutional capacity of NADMO and its stakeholders to perform effectively.
To implement disaster management programmes at national, regional, district and zonal levels.

Pursue the vision and goals of disaster management.

Create a cohesive and well-coordinated programming framework incorporating Government Agencies and Departments, Non-Governmental Organizations and the Private Sector.
To develop the capacity of communities in Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery from disasters.
To develop the capacity of communities on Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery from disasters.

Goals:

Professional approach to disaster management system.
Mainstreaming disaster risk reduction.
Strengthening institutional mechanisms for disaster management
Empowering communities at risk to disasters
Strengthening emergency response systems for handling natural and man-made disasters
Developing and strengthening networking.