Today marks the 10th anniversary of the devastating flood and fire disaster that struck the heart of Accra, claiming 154 lives and leaving the nation in shock. Apexnewsgh reports
On that fateful night of June 3, 2015, torrential rains pounded the capital, and an explosion at the GOIL filling station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle turned a dire flood emergency into a national tragedy.
Hundreds of individuals, caught in the downpour and rising floodwaters, had sought shelter at the fuel station. But as water levels surged, fuel leaked from the station and floated across the surface. In a flash, a spark triggered a massive explosion, engulfing the area in flames.
The aftermath was grim, with bodies scattered across the streets and some found days later in open drains.
A government-appointed committee launched an investigation into the cause of the fire and outlined a chain of events that led to the explosion.
The report identified the flooding of Kwame Nkrumah as the remote cause, the overflow of fuel from the GOIL station as the intermediate cause, and the act of an individual, Seth Kwesi Ofosu, who reportedly dropped a lit cigarette into the floodwaters laced with fuel, as the final spark.
While some remedial efforts have been undertaken over the years, many believe that the deeper structural issues contributing to the disaster remain unresolved. Poor urban drainage, inadequate waste management, and unregulated construction continue to pose risks in the city. As the nation reflects on the 10th anniversary of the June 3 disaster, survivors, victims’ families, and civil society groups are once again calling for accountability and sustained action to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
The June 3 disaster serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing the underlying causes of such tragedies. The government and relevant stakeholders must take concrete steps to prevent similar disasters in the future. The nation must come together to demand accountability and action, ensuring that the lives lost were not in vain.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
