Disaster wake up call to solve seasonal occurrence
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has described the floods in several parts of Accra as another wake up call for the country to address the long-standing infrastructural problems that lead to what is becoming a seasonal occurrence.
Advertisement
According to the CPP, what happened in the capital on Wednesday is a natural disaster that has affected all of us and a failure of leadership over decades.
Floods
A number of areas in the nation’s capital, Accra, was hit by floods including the scene of the Goil filling station explosion at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, which claimed the lives of about a hundred people with many severely injured.
President Mahama, who visited the areas in the early morning of Thursday, June 4, 2015, was appalled by the situation and blamed human activity as a contributory factor to the flooding from the downpour of Wednesday.
Man-made disaster
In a statement signed by Madam Samia Yaba Nkrumah, the party’s National Chairman and leader, she pointed out that “this is a man-made disaster which could have been avoided with proper planning that takes into account the growing urban population of Accra.”
“We have experienced a particularly dreadful night, filled with incidents that are the stuff of nightmares. Incessant rain, rising water levels in our homes and roads, and the heart-breaking deaths of many due to a fire outbreak at the Goil petrol station at Circle, in the nation's capital,” it stated.
Immediate assistance
The CPP offered its deepest condolences to the families of all who have died, saying “Our thoughts and prayers also go out to those at the Burns Units in hospitals in Accra as a result of this terrible accident.”
According to the CPP, while we lament the failure of leadership and absence of a comprehensive developmental vision, the CPP is asking for all Ghanaians to pull together and help each other in any way that we can in the face of this unexpected misfortune.
“This is the time to be our brothers' and sisters' keepers. Individuals and families caught out in the rain need immediate assistance. You can help by donating clothes and shoes of all sizes and for all ages, tarpaulins and other plastic sheeting, long brooms, food, water, hot drinks and any money you can spare,” it stated.
It further urged the setting up of neighbourhood teams to coordinate clean-ups, distribution of clothes, food and any other items that are donated.
Those who have the space can take in others until their homes dry out. This is the time to prove to be good neighbours, and citizens, the CPP stated.
Meanwhile the statement said that the CPP had opened the CPP People in Need Appeal to receive donations of clothes, food and other items at the CPP Headquarters, Mango Street, Asylum Down, Accra, for distribution to our brothers and sisters in distress.
We can, and we will pull through these unfortunate circumstances, together as citizens of Ghana, in this unprecedented time of need. God bless Ghana, it stated.
