June 3 Disaster: 9 Years On, Remembering Lost Lives and Lessons Learned

Nine years ago on the June 3, 2015, disaster struck in Accra, at what was known then as the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. It was a tragic event that remains etched in the collective memory of Ghanaians. On that fateful day, there was a devastating combination of severe flooding and a catastrophic fire at a GOIL fuel station at that location, which claimed over 150 lives and caused extensive damage to property.

As the nation pauses to remember the victims, it is pertinent to ask: Have we learnt any lessons?

The June 3 disaster exposed significant vulnerabilities in Accra’s infrastructure and emergency response systems. The heavy rains led to extensive flooding, which overwhelmed the city’s inadequate drainage systems.

The ensuing fire, caused by the flooding carrying flammable materials into the fuel station, highlighted severe deficiencies in urban planning and disaster preparedness.

The Director of Communications for the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) George Ayisi has described the disaster as one of the most devastating events in the country’s recent history.

In an interview with RGG News, Mr. Ayisi said Accra experienced heavy and continuous rainfall that overwhelmed the city’s inadequate drainage system.

“Last year, as part of our commemoration we issued a statement dubbed ‘Never Again’. This is because Accra experienced heavy and continuous rainfall that overwhelmed the city’s inadequate drainage system and we do not wish for such an occurrence again,” he said.

According to him several major drainage projects have been undertaken to reduce the risk of flooding. The Odaw River drainage project, among others, aims to mitigate flooding in critical areas of Accra.

He added that they have contracted Dredge Masters to undertake periodic dredging of various drainage systems in the capital city, especially the Odaw River.

“Enhancements to the city’s drainage systems have been prioritized to prevent future flooding. Projects aimed at desilting and expanding key drainage channels have been undertaken,” he noted.

Civil society organisation, OneGhana Movement has criticised the lack of headway made in getting justice served to the victims of the June 3 disaster, of 2015.

According to the group, the delay since the twin-disaster happened has been ‘agonisingly slow’.