President declares 3 days of national mourning

President John Dramani Mahama has announced three days of national mourning, beginning from next Monday, for the people who lost their lives in the fire and floods which occurred in Accra last Wednesday night.

Flags will fly at half mast during the period as the nation mourns the departed ones.
The President said the security services had so far counted about 150 deaths but indicated that the official toll would be known after the search-and-rescue exercise which ends next Sunday.

Crisis meeting 

Addressing the Presidential Press Corps yesterday evening after a national crisis and emergency meeting at the Flagstaff House, the President said the government had allocated GH¢50 million to cover relief and humanitarian operations, detailing and clearing of water ways and repair of infrastructure.
The exercise will not be limited to only Accra but also other towns and villages that may find themselves in similar situations.
"The government's current priority is to protect lives and property. But beyond that we'll take the tough measures that are necessary to prevent such disasters from occurring in the future. Drastic steps are necessary here if we are to permanently address these perennial problems.
"Fellow Ghanaians, as we mourn the departed today and the days ahead, let us work together as one team and one nation united in grief but determined not to have a repeat of such a national disaster," the President said.

Drainage system 

President Mahama said every effort would be made to expand and modernise the drainage system in the capital.
In that instance, he admonished Ghanaians to endeavour to do the right things at all times, adding that the situation of the convenience of the few undermined the safety of the majority would not be tolerated.
He also stated that NADMO and the security agencies would set up emergency shelter zones in affected areas to provide refuge for displaced persons and appealed to churches and mosques to make their premises available to house displaced people.
He said a national call centre had been activated which would be available for the public to access.
The number to call is 112 from Vodafone, MTN and Airtel lines.
President Mahama said the Minister of Health had activated the necessary structures to prevent any probable health challenge, especially the outbreak of cholera.
He commended the security services for their gallant response, without which the death toll would have increased.
Visibly upset by the massive loss of lives and destruction of property from last Wednesday's floods in Accra, President Mahama has said that never again should the nation encounter such a calamity, report Kwame Asare Boadu & Musah Yahaya Jafaru.
"I am short of words," he said, stressing, “We must sit down and strategise to make sure this doesn’t happen again."

Tour 

While touring the remains of the Goil Filling Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra where 76 precious souls were lost from an explosion in the course of last Wednesday’s rains, the President said the nation could not continue to behave like the proverbial vulture which said it would build its nest when the rain stopped but which never materialised.
He expressed disappointment at the fact that often when action was taken to prevent such disasters, people stood against it.
"A lot of times when the steps are drastic, you have people expressing sympathy," he said while occasionally staring at the destruction left by the fire.
Immediately he got to the scene, he stopped for a while, stared at the massive rubble strewn on the premises and shook his head in disbelief.
Mr Mahama, in a visibly depressed mood, listened to a briefing by Fire Service personnel.

Irresponsible developments 

The President took a serious view of continued irresponsible developments in the city.
"People continue to build on water courses," he said.
He expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.