Central Regional Disaster Management and Leadership Training 2026

The Central Regional Disaster Management and Leadership Training 2026 has reinforced efforts to build a more resilient and proactive disaster management system through a strategic partnership between the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

The collaboration brought together leading academics from UCC alongside experienced disaster management practitioners, creating a powerful blend of theory, research, and field-based operational expertise. This approach was designed to strengthen the capacity of Metropolitan, Municipal, and District (MMD) Directors in the Central Region to move beyond reactive emergency response and adopt data-driven, preventive risk reduction strategies.

A key highlight of the programme was the involvement of the Department of Geography and Regional Planning at UCC, currently the only academic department in Ghana offering a GTEC-accredited Master’s degree in Disaster Management. Their participation added significant intellectual depth to the training, equipping participants with modern methodologies in hazard assessment, spatial analysis, and resilience planning.

Facilitators emphasized that effective disaster management requires not only procedural compliance but also a strong understanding of the underlying science of risk, vulnerability, and environmental change. This academic-practitioner synergy ensured that participants gained both conceptual clarity and practical tools for real-world application.

The workshop also featured contributions from senior academics and professionals including Prof Benjamin Kofi Nyarko, Dr Thomas Kolawole Ojo, and Dr Suleman Dauda, who shared valuable insights on disaster preparedness, research-driven planning, and regional resilience frameworks. Their expertise was complemented by Hon Dr Francis Korankye Sakyi of UCC’s Law Department and Executive Secretary of Ghana’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, who contributed perspectives on governance, conflict resolution, and institutional coordination in disaster response systems.

Organizers described the training as a milestone in strengthening leadership capacity within NADMO, noting that the collaboration with UCC represents a long-term investment in building smarter, more responsive, and evidence-based disaster management systems in Ghana.

The initiative reflects a growing recognition that sustainable disaster resilience depends not only on operational readiness but also on continuous academic engagement, policy integration, and leadership development.