Three days into the new month of June, the city of Accra came under a heavy down pour of terrestrial rains in the evening of 3rd June 2015. Ghanaians woke up to a brand new horror of disaster perpetuated by the rains. Various parts of Accra were flooded, from Santa Maria, Sowutuom to Achimota, from Alajo to Circle , just to mention these key places that were hardly affected by the rains. The most devastating event was the explosion at the GOIL filling station due to the effects of the rains and flooding. Drainage is a perennial problem in the sprawling, rapidly-expanding city of Accra with over two Million people. The Red Cross puts the death toll at 78, but the fire service said over 90 people had been killed.
The government in conjunction with the company involved, which in this case is GOIL Ghana limited is yet to disclosure a compensation plan for the flood and explosion victims.The government has also announced a three days national mourning beginning Monday, 8th June to Wednesday 10th June.
But the big question is that, are we doing enough to avoid these calamities that seems to be like a visiting friend every mid year of the raining season? It seems that we as Ghanaian have the habit of quickly forgetting events as the year slips by. Maybe we so soon forgot the effects of these floods and the lives it has claimed over the years. Perhaps let me take you down through memory lines.
In 2013, one person was reported killed in floods in Bunkpurugu, north east of Ghana. Almost 6000 people were displaced in the floods.(see this here: http://floodlist.com/africa/floods-bunkpurugu-ghana). Same year Accra also witnessed immersed flooding in major towns and cities.
Also, two hours heavy rains on Friday 31 January 2014 cause flooding across Accra. Though no casualties were recorded, property and buildings worth millions of Cedis have been damaged and roads blocked. Same 2014,10th July one person died with over 6000 people displaced.
All these shows that Accra is highly exposed to flood disaster annually.
What then should be done? For centuries, commemorative statues, buildings and monuments have been erected across different countries in memory of those who perished in natural disasters, major accidents and even terrorist attacks. Citizens from all over the world join forces and create a public remembrance of those killed during these historic events. It is because of this reason why we establish memorial-- so our future generations will learn and understand the sacrifices made by those who died.
Take for instance in France, the Canadian National Vimy memorial site is a site memorial which serves a place for the remembrance of those who died in the war. Same goes for the Pearl Harbor memorial site in Huawei, just to mention but two. Ghana has few memorial sites like the Kwame Nkrumah memorial park. However, it is very important that on this sorrow moment that the government and citizens come together and establish a memorial site for flood victims over the years, taking into consideration that flood is a national crisis and disaster that has robbed lots of lives and property and left thousands displaced.In this regard i may suggest that the site of flooding and explosion should be considered and converted to memorial site !
The call for the establishment of a memorial site for flood victims over the past years from 1968 till today( see : http://graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/44243-flood-disaster-profile-of-ghana.html) is highly imperative to remind us as to whether much is been done both leaders and as citizens of the nation. This memorial will bring a constant reassurance as a day and remembrance of our commitment inn ensuring that such calamity is prevented in the near future.
I therefore call on call, leaders, youth, mothers , relatives of flood victims over the years to rise to this call and occasion.
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