OTI NADMO DIRECTOR HIGHLIGHTS WATER SAFETY EDUCATION INITIATIVE

The Oti Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr. Kwabena Foster Dzre, has highlighted efforts by the organisation to educate residents on safe travel across water bodies in the region. Speaking in a phone interview with Nana Nhyiraba Kwabena Asirifi on the Ghana Nti Morning Show, Mr. Dzre said one of the key initiatives introduced during his tenure has been public education on water transportation safety. According to him, many communities in the Oti Region are surrounded by water, making boats and canoes the primary means of transportation for both private and commercial purposes. He explained that commercial boat operators often transport large numbers of passengers, sometimes as many as 100 people on a single trip. Mr. Dzre expressed concern that many of these operators fail to provide life jackets for passengers, thereby increasing the risk of fatalities in the event of an accident on the water. He said NADMO has embarked on an education campaign to encourage boat and canoe operators to provide life jackets for all passengers before embarking on a journey. According to him, wearing life jackets can significantly improve a person's chances of survival if a boat or canoe capsizes before rescue teams arrive. Mr. Dzre reiterated that promoting water safety awareness remains a priority for NADMO in the Oti Region and urged both transport operators and passengers to strictly observe safety measures to help prevent avoidable tragedies on the region's waterways.