Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has extended condolences to families who lost loved ones in the recent floods, urging Ghanaians to support measures aimed at preventing future disasters and reducing their impact.

Addressing the Republic Day Parade of the National Cadet Corps at Black Star Square on Thursday, the Vice President described the floods as a painful national tragedy and called for greater public cooperation with interventions designed to mitigate the effects of such disasters.

She made the remarks before delivering her address as Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer at the parade, which brought together more than 10,000 cadets from across the country to commemorate Ghana’s 66th Republic Day.

The Vice President also praised the National Cadet Corps for its contribution to youth development over the past 72 years, saying the organisation has consistently nurtured patriotism, discipline and leadership among young people.

She noted that with a membership exceeding 76,000 across the basic, secondary and tertiary levels, the Corps has become one of Ghana’s most disciplined youth organisations, providing a platform for young people to develop into responsible citizens while steering them away from social vices.

She urged the country’s security services to continue identifying and recruiting talented cadets, observing that many senior officers in the security agencies began their leadership journeys through the National Cadet Corps.

The Vice President further commended cadets for participating in nationwide clean-up and tree-planting exercises, describing the initiatives as practical demonstrations of civic responsibility and environmental stewardship. She also congratulated schools that distinguished themselves in the National Music, Jama and Drill competitions.

Earlier, Nicholas Nii Tettey Amarteifio, National Cadet Coordinator General, appealed for increased government investment in the Corps to enable it to expand its activities and strengthen youth development programmes across the country.

He said the organisation has evolved beyond ceremonial drills to include community service, environmental campaigns and leadership development, and proposed the introduction of agriculture into cadet training to encourage young people to develop an interest in farming while contributing to national food security.

Mr. Amarteifio also appealed for additional logistical support, particularly vehicles, to improve the Corps’ operations nationwide, noting that it currently relies on a single 60-seater bus despite its presence in all 16 regions.

He added that the National Cadet Corps remains committed to supporting efforts to tackle drug abuse and other social challenges in schools through discipline, leadership and civic education.

The National Cadet Corps, established in 1954, is one of Ghana’s largest youth organisations. It operates in basic, second-cycle and tertiary institutions, promoting patriotism, discipline, leadership and volunteerism while preparing young people for responsible citizenship and, in some cases, careers in the country’s security services.