Photo Caption: Group photo from the first day of the Ghana National Government Pandemic Response Tabletop Exercise, currently taking place in Elmina, Ghana (6-10 February 2012)
Approximately 120 civilian and military representatives from five African nations and the United States came together in Elmina, Ghana on 6 February 2012 for a weeklong exercise to assess the current capability of the Ghanaian government to respond to a potential pandemic outbreak of influenza. The Ghana National Government Pandemic Response Tabletop Exercise is the eighth of its kind under the Pandemic Response Program (PRP) on the African Continent. The event is hosted by the Ghana government, implemented by U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) with support from the Center for Disaster and Humanitarian Assistance Medicine (CDHAM), and funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The PRP is executed via a strategic whole-of-government approach and fosters synchronization of national and regional level preparedness and response plans. It is conducted in collaboration with other inter-agency and international partners who share the same end states, to strengthen Partner Nations’ capacity to respond to a pandemic disaster.
Director Christina Edmund, representing the Ghana Ministry of the Interior at the opening ceremony, commended the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), “for undertaking challenging activities and playing a strong coordinating role in the country.”
“NADMO has prepared an elaborate plan aimed at reducing risks to disasters and implementing programs to build the resilience of Ghanaians to disasters, in search and rescue, rapid needs assessment and relief administration,” Ms. Edmund said. She also advised the participants to approach the exercise with utmost seriousness, emphasizing that “The nation and sub-region will rely on us to reduce pain and suffering in the event of a pandemic, and we cannot afford to disappoint them.”
Special Assistant to the Commander of U.S. Africa Command, Brigadier General Stayce Harris, reiterated that “Dealing with a pandemic, from planning to post operation phases, is a high priority for the United States Government.”
“We must keep in mind that health and security issues are closely linked. Consequently one of U.S. Africa Command’s strategic objectives is assisting partner nations with protecting populations from deadly contagions. [...] Reviewing our current capabilities and capacities will assist in identifying areas where we need to work together when responding to a complex humanitarian emergency,” Harris concluded.
U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Donald G. Teitelbaum cited his experience in countries experiencing disasters when he said, “Disasters never come alone. When a disaster strikes you cannot count on the things that you normally count on, traffic could be snarled, cell phone circuits can be jammed. When a disaster strikes we still find ourselves sometimes getting bogged down by bureaucracy.” He closed his address by saying, “Please meet each other and communicate. Think hard about who is not here and what they have to offer.”
NADMO National Coordinator, Mr Kofi Portuphy, said the exercise would be of benefit to African countries. He specifically singled out the Ghana military and other security agencies, expressing gratitude for their support, especially during the recent floods that affected parts of Accra.
CDHAM Director, Dr. Charles Beadling, noted that “This Tabletop Exercise is an important step in a program of sustained engagement that builds sustainable capacity in the Partner Nation’s preparedness for a Pandemic Disaster, or an emergency from any cause. In addition to strengthening the national response plan, benefits include increasing leadership in the participants and resiliency in the society.” Dr. Beadling concluded that “Another outcome is a collaborative network of regional experts to offer sharing of ideas and support,” noting the representation from Kenya, Nigeria, Togo, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
Ghana is in the third phase of a five-phase approach within U.S. AFRICOM’s PRP, which ensures that the Ghana Armed Forces have a contingency plan to support civil authorities in responding to a pandemic or disaster. The Tabletop Exercise tackles Ghana’s pandemic preparedness, with a particular emphasis on the areas of operations, communication, health, security, and logistics. Throughout the week, attendees will participate in five capacity building plenary sessions requiring them to respond to a series of exercise injects. As the exercise develops, the scenarios will become more complex, simulating a real pandemic crisis.
The scenarios and events will conclude on Friday with a review to identify gaps and shortfalls in current Ghana policies and plans.
