By Olimatou Coker
National Disaster Management Agency together with Kanifing Municipal Council organised a training recently for 19 ward Councillors.
They were trained on the NDMA legal framework and disaster risk reduction terminologies.
Speaking at the training staged at the KMC chambers, Ngange Jeng, disaster coordinator KM, said of the training:
“It will equip them and help them understand the importance of technology in disaster risk reduction and the councils’s response in disaster control.”
Jeng said the training should have taken place since 2018, “but due to some logistical arrangements it did not happen,” expressing his elation after successfully completing the training now.
Lamin Mass, the director of administration of the NDMA, said it is now expected that councillors be able to “effectively and efficiently” deal with disasters if and when it occurs in the country.
The deputy chief executive officer of the KMC, Bakary Jawo, said as a council their target is to find ways and means to ensure disaster control.
“In that regard, such training is significant because it will give them [Ward Councillors] the opportunity to understand disasters that occur.
Ward Councillor Musa Cham said the training was “very helpful.”
“It will ensure that we are better prepared to approach disaster related issues within our wards,” he said.
Lamin Darboe, councillor for Old Bakau Ward expressed similar remarks.
