Today marks
a solemn milestone of ten years since the devastating flood and fire that
rocked the heart of Accra, claiming 154 lives and leaving indelible scars on
the nation’s consciousness.
On the night
of June 3, 2015, relentless heavy rains poured over the capital, causing
widespread flooding. Amidst the chaos, tragedy struck near Kwame Nkrumah Circle
at a GOIL filling station. As water levels rose rapidly, fuel leaked from the
station’s tanks, floating across the flooded surface. In an instant, a spark
ignited the fuel-laden waters, unleashing a catastrophic explosion that
engulfed the area in flames.
Witnesses
recall the horror vividly, with bodies scattered across the streets, some
recovered days later from open drains, others lost in the inferno. Emergency
responders worked tirelessly amid the debris, battling the twin threats of
floodwaters and fire. The government declared three days of national mourning,
a somber acknowledgment of the scale of loss.
In the
aftermath, a government-appointed committee launched a thorough investigation.
Their report detailed a tragic chain of events: the flooding of Kwame Nkrumah
as the remote cause, the overflow of fuel from the station as the intermediate
cause, and a lit cigarette dropped by an individual Seth Kwesi Ofosu as the
final spark.
The
investigation revealed that the explosion caused injuries to 154 more people
and destroyed five structures, with property damages estimated at GHS 1.65
million. The report called for urgent interventions, including extensive
drainage works, dredging and desilting the Odaw River and its tributaries and
the formation of a sanitation police force to enforce waste management
regulations.
Despite some
remedial efforts over the years, many of the structural issues persist. Poor
urban drainage systems, unregulated construction, and inadequate waste
management continue to threaten the city’s safety. The anniversary serves as a
stark reminder that the root causes of that fateful night remain unresolved.
Today,
survivors, families of victims, civil society groups, and concerned citizens
renew their call for accountability and sustained action. They urge authorities
to prioritize infrastructural reforms, environmental management, and urban
planning to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again.
As Ghana
commemorates this tragic milestone, the hope remains that lessons learned will
translate into concrete measures, saving lives and safeguarding the future of
Accra.
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