Accra remembers June 3 nightmare (Photos)
A solemn, almost eerie yet grim atmosphere filled the auditorium of The Rev. Ernest Bruce Memorial Methodist Church at Adabraka, Accra on Friday, where ceremonies were held to mark the one year anniversary of the June 3 fire and flood disaster.
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Mourners clad in black and white attires, and others in typical black and red clothes, filled the pews along with scarred survivors of the twin disaster that cost 159 lives, singing to God’s glory and praying ‘never again’.
Among the congregation were President John Dramani Mahama; the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije; Minister of Interior, Mr Prosper Bani; and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority, Mr Moses Asaga.
Exactly a year ago, heavy floods from sustained rainfalls exposed the capital’s poor and acutely inadequate drainage, as has been the years preceding. However on this occasion, fuel seepage from a nearby Goil filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle combined into a violently destructive force and consumed both lives and property, etching on the nation’s conscience a never-to-be-forgotten disaster.
In a sermon, the Methodist Bishop of Accra, Rev. Samuel Kofi Osabutey encouraged the survivors and families of the deceased to look up to God and the scriptures in times of disasters.
“As we read the scriptures and remember what God has done, we are encouraged…that God will never separate from us His love. His love endures forever. We will read about histories of people who have gone through similar experiences and we can be encouraged by what we have read,” he said.
Click here to view more photographs from the memorial service
The Metropolitan Chief Executive of Accra, Dr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije gave a report on the lessons learnt and the actions taken to ensure that such a disaster does not reoccur.
According to him, 108 families who were affected by the disaster have been taken care of by government.
Dr Vanderpuije said government was also giving support to 15 individuals who were severely injured and disfigured by the fire.
“15 individuals who were hospitalised and all who were hospitalised had their medical bills paid by government. More individuals will be acknowledged and their support will be paid to them,” he said.
He also noted that some bodies were yet to be identified and entreated families who have lost loved ones over the past year but could not trace their whereabouts to visit the morgues and help in identifying them.
According to Dr Vanderpuije, the assembly would constantly desilt minor drains and storm drains in Accra “to ensure that June 3, indeed has come to be a thing of the past.”
A wreath laying ceremony was also held at the scene of the disaster to honour the dead.