Fire, Flood and Mourning
It was a rainy and windy night. As was usual, the Goil Filling Station at Circle and all other filling stations across the country were holding shelters for commuters caught up by rains while in transit to or from work.
The night of June 3, 2015, was not an exception. But an avoidable disaster struck when floodwater, fire and fuel merged to cause a great inferno, which left in its wake at least 150 dead and more than 200 injured.
Hospitals in the capital city were flooded with charred bodies while relatives toured hospitals and morgues with the hope of finding their relatives alive, but majority were greeted with shock and grief.
Fathers, mothers, wives, husbands, aunties, uncles, children, old and young were not spared. And as expected, authorities rushed to the scene the following day with the “usual” promise to bring perpetrators to book. The scene of the disaster became a backdrop for photo opportunities, as life
across the nation returned to normal – almost as if the tragedy was a mere punctuation mark in the history of Ghana.
A Decade On
It has been a decade and the closest the victims got to justice was the government’s decision to foot their hospital bills, offers of little cash to help bury the dead and a pittance handed survivors in the name of care. Many of the survivors were breadwinners but their injuries have left them
incapable of work to earn a living.
How have these victims and their dependants lived? A committee was set up to investigate the avoidable disaster, and it does not appear that its finished work will be formally made public and a white paper written to define Government’s response and directives on this important matter.
It has been 10 years for God’s sake. Where is the report, and where is its white paper? What at all is there to hide? We cannot accept that a smoker was to blame for the disaster of June 3, 2015. A cigarette does not light a flood of water.
Remember the alleged smoker survived. There can be no doubt that this tragedy happened because someone failed to manage displaced hydrocarbons, which provided the fuel for the inferno. What honour are we doing to the memory of those killed, those maimed and their dependants when we hold back the truths of what cost them so much?
Such avoidable disasters will not stop when no one is punished for the negligence and inactions. On June 3, 2015, we said never again but yet there was the La Gas explosion, the Atomic junction ‘bomb’, the Takoradi explosion and others. Go check what has become of the life of survivors of
these mostly avoidable disasters? We certainly cannot go on like this as a country!
A Paradigm Shift Required
There has to be a sharp paradigm shift from the old ways of doing things in this country. Institutions and people must be held accountable if Ghana must work and be the envy of the world as it was in the independence story.
The dwindling sense of responsibility on our part as citizens, the constant politicization of all issues in Ghana and the impunity and lack of accountability in the public sector of our motherland are leading us all down a bleak, steep and dark future. Our children and children’s children are counting on us to turn the tide around.
I recently encountered a debate between a group of politically elite persons discussing the recurrence of flooding in Accra. Some argued that their leadership has done much better, because their floods killed mere tens and not the hundreds under their opponents’ management. I cringed.
Those who suffered on June 3 and any other disaster in this country are not statistics for wanton, needless political comparisons. They are lives, real lives. Those who carry the scars of these disasters are children, breadwinners, benefactors and human like us all. The driver Alex Mensah who is
shunned by car owners and passengers alike for his scars, is not a statistic. He is a father, a husband and a son who needs to fend for his kith and kin.
Kwame Peter, Watease, Philip, Arthur and co who died, were not statistics. Mercy Adoma who carries many scars today and has lost health and hearing to the extent that she cannot work productively is also not a statistic. Saraj Kassim, who was heavily burnt and spent years in the hospital while losing his wife and children, is not a statistic. His life is distraught. I can go on an on and on. Each soul lost was not only a tragic loss but a legacy of love, hope, and dreams that will never be forgotten.
They were individuals who contributed to our society in unique and meaningful ways and lived among us. We must know we are one people and must not lose sight of our humanity simply because the unjust occurrences are farther away from us. These are real lives, destroyed through no fault of theirs but by the failings of those we entrusted authority and responsibility to serve and protect us all.
We must own up and admit where we failed, apologise and compensate those who foremostly bear the weight of our failings and correct our ways not to fail again. Till then, the big question remains, who are those responsible and when will they be held accountable?
Acknowledgements
As we reflect, let us also acknowledge the bravery of first responders, media, volunteers, and everyday citizens who stepped forward to aid those in need. They are the unsung heroes whose courage and selflessness remind us of the inherent strength within our humanity.
Their actions should inspire us to remain vigilant and proactive, ensuring that future generations are better equipped to face challenges. It is my honour to acknowledge the selflessness of Samson Lardy Anyenini for his dedicated and professional legal services granted the victims pro-bono.
We appreciate the team of psychology professionals led by Prof. Oppong Asante who provided therapy assistance to the victims. To everyone in the OneGhana team and the group of victims led by Thomas Sakyi, I say ayeekoo for supporting each other survive this past difficult decade.
To government, the victims have suffered enough and continue to suffer economically and psychologically. These victims are your children, let them not continue to suffer so unjustly. The failings of Goil to manage its facility safely, the failings of the NPA to ensure the safe operation of the
Goil facility as the regulator who observed the failings of the station and yet allowed it to operate, the failings of the municipal assemblies to stop informal settlements in storm drains and clogging of our drains, are failings of State and State institutions against the children of the State.
To His Excellency the President, please do not have your children fight for their fate through the courts when you are the common denominator to ensure a just and swift settlement of the victim’s legal charge for compensation. I urge you, Mr. President, to facilitate an out-of-court settlement to attain closure. May your reign be recounted in future as humane, honourable, just and fair.
As we mark this solemn anniversary, let us also cast our gaze toward the future. The best way to honour the victims of this disaster is to ensure that their memory drives positive change. We must continue to advocate for justice, safety measures, disaster preparedness, and policies that prioritise
the welfare of our people.
Let this day serve as a reminder that while the past guides us, the future is ours to shape, and we all have a role to play. Let us also remember that healing is a journey, one that requires compassion, patience, and the willingness to listen—to each other and to ourselves.
For those still bearing the weight of loss, know that you are not alone. Our unity will push us on to prevail.
A Final Tribute
In closing, I ask us all to commit to doing our part in any corner we find ourselves in contributing to avoiding the occurrence of any disaster. Whether it is by not silting our gutters or littering and admonishing others to do same, or insisting the right thing is done on our various jobs, or resisting the urge to compromise standards, we all have a role to play.
It could be any of us or our family and friends being the victims of tomorrow. When we live to save others, we live to save ourselves.
Join me in a moment of silence, not only to mourn the lives lost but to honour their enduring presence in our hearts and memories.
Let’s live with purpose, by fostering kindness, and by holding onto hope even in the darkest of times.
Thank you and God bless our Homeland Ghana.
