Accra Floods: Prez directs DNA tests for unidentified victims
President John Dramani Mahama has directed that DNA tests be conducted on the charred bodies of last Wednesday’s fire disaster to ease identification by family members.
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He is, therefore, calling on families who are yet to identify their relatives to visit the 37 Military, Police and Korle Bu Teaching Hospitals with DNA samples to confirm the identities of the deceased.
The President gave this directive on Wednesday morning during the memorial service to sympathise with victims of the double disaster which claimed over 150 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of Ghana cedis.
The memorial service brought the three days of mourning to an end. Government declared three days of mourning in honour of victims who died from the flood and fire disaster of last Wednesday, June 3, 2015.
Addressing the ceremony, President Mahama said, “Government has given authorisation for DNA tests to be conducted on the bodies from the disaster which have not yet been identified."
This, the President said was to allow families that are unsure of the fate of their members to bring DNA samples for confirmation. It would also help to identify those who are yet to be accounted for and according to the President, this will enable claims to be quickly be granted.
President Mahama said the official death toll as of now was 152 and that names of the victims would be released to the public in due course to ensure that they are remembered eternally.
“These numbers are still provisional and we are hoping that we shall not find any more bodies,” he said.
He also called for prayers for those who were still on admission at various hospitals.
“Let’s continue to pray for them to be healed. Let us keep them in our thoughts and prayers as they continue on their path on full recovery,” he said.
Let’s be grateful
Nonetheless, President Mahama urged Ghanaians to be grateful to God in the face of difficulties.
“There is much for which we should be grateful. Not least of all is our own lives. We have seen yet again, the unpredictability of life. Nobody knows what tomorrow will bring and no one is immune or exempt,” he noted.
Blame game
President Mahama also urged Ghanaians to exercise restraint in apportioning blame.
He admitted there was a lot of blame to be made. Nevertheless, he said, such discourse should be done to help find a lasting solution against a re-occurrence of such a disaster.
“When we list one by one, the various mistakes and failings that contributed to this catastrophe, I hope it is not for the purpose of pointing fingers but rather of making certain that something of this nature never again happens to our dear country.”
“Our conversations should not be centered on what parts government did or did not do but rather on what this government must and will do. We should not waste resources or time predicting when another disaster or flood will claim lives. Rather, invest that time in taking the appropriate measures to prevent the possibility of such an occurrence,” he added.
Appreciation
President Mahama expressed appreciation to the security agencies for their dedication and effort in the face of the disaster.
He also extended gratitude to the numerous Ghanaians who risked their own lives to save others as well as the various organisations who have set up disaster relief funds intended to mobilise resources to assist those in need.
Listen to President Mahama's address at the Memorial Service
{mp3}prez_memorial{/mp3}