“We must be proactive and plan meticulously for any eventuality,” he stated, adding that the nation cannot always afford to be reactive.

Mr Gunu made this statement at the opening of a day’s workshop on the ‘Emergency Preparedness Plan and Environmental Management Plan for Municipal and District Chief Executives in Ho last Tuesday.

The workshop, organised by the Volta River Authority (VRA), focused on proactive governance and community safety.

“In recent times, we have witnessed, both globally and locally, the increasing frequency and intensity of various emergencies – from natural disasters like floods and storms to manmade incidents, highlighting the absolute necessity of strong preventive strategies,” he said.

Mr Gunu stated that the effectiveness of the regional emergency response depended heavily on the robustness of district emergency preparedness plans and the commitment to sound environmental management practices, which required a collective roadmap or swift and coordinated action.

“It also outlines roles, responsibilities, communication channels and resource mobilisation strategies,” he pointed out. He added that a well-developed and regularly reviewed plan could distinguish between chaos and order, between significant loss and minimised impact, save lives and protect livelihoods.

Mr Gunu emphasised the importance of the environmental management plan, stating that mismanagement of the environment could lead to hazards.

“By embracing effective environmental management, we are not just protecting our natural heritage; we are also building resilience against future disasters,” he said.

An engineer from the Water Resource and Renewable Energy Department of the VRA, Akosua Owusu Efaa, stated that the VRA was always attentive to community safety, which is why it issues warnings ahead of potential disasters.

Some heads of department and personnel of the security agencies also attended the workshop.