El Niño: NADMO and GMet urge churches and mosques to lead community preparedness

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has urged religious leaders to take a forefront role in educating communities and preparing households for the potential impacts of the developing El Niño weather pattern. Esenam Adzo Norgey Apawu, Deputy Director of NADMO for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, explained that churches, mosques, and their leaders hold significant sway over their communities, providing them with a crucial platform to disseminate early warnings and assist families in taking necessary precautions.

"Religious leaders hold sway in their communities," she emphasized, underscoring that their influence can be harnessed to educate people about El Niño, share timely updates, and support families in preparing for its possible effects. Apawu stressed that vital information about the weather phenomenon should extend beyond government buildings and conference rooms to reach households and communities, where preventive actions are most critical.

"Information on El Niño should not be confined to offices and meeting rooms," she stated, "it must permeate into homes and communities, where preparedness truly begins." Speaking at a breakfast meeting organized by GreenFaith Ghana to bolster the capacity of religious leaders and places of worship to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to risks linked to the El Niño event, Apawu urged religious leaders, traditional authorities, and community members to actively participate in local preparedness initiatives, rather than leaving it solely to governmental entities.