Floods: Seize properties of failed officials - Dr Aning

Source: myjoyonline.com  -  A Security expert is advocating for the seizure of assets of officials whose negligence have led to needless loss of lives and properties in the twin flood and fire disasters.

Dr Kwasi Aning said the monies accrued from the sale of those seized assets will help in taking care of the victims of those disasters.

His comments come in the wake of the harrowing deaths of over 150 people through the tragic flood and fire disasters last week.

The country has been left in shock with government and other well-meaning people desperately attending to the immediate needs of surviving victims.

But there have been finger pointing as well, with calls on the Mayor and other individuals to resign.

Contributing to the discussion on Joy FM, the Researcher at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre said it is about time people are held responsible for such disasters and punitive measures taken against them.

He said government must be "bold enough" to detect which institutions or persons whose failure led to the fatalities and take appropriate sanctions.

'Ostrich'

Dr Aning said Ghanaians behave like the proverbial ostrich which buries its head in the sand waiting for a disaster to happen before it sits up.

"We never prepare for anything," he said, adding the country must not only worry about the future of the victims but about the country's level of preparedness for another flood disaster if it strikes in the coming days.

"If the rains come in two weeks’ time are we ready?" he asked.

He said a better disaster response unit with qualified and experienced personnel must be set aside to take care of such emergency with an operations coordinating centre ready to coordinate all activities.