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General News on Tuesday, June 4th, 2019
Source: thefinderonline.com
2019-06-04
The disaster of June 3rd happened 4 years ago
The OneGhana Movement reiterated its demand for fair compensation for the victims of the June 3 disaster and their families, as well as sanctions for those responsible.
These, the group said, would strengthen the sense of responsibility of citizens, Ghanaian businesses and government officials.
In doing so, the group believes that it will urge citizens not to allow their rights and privileges to be violated while officials and politicians will realize that they will be held accountable for their actions.
In a statement by Emily Kanyir Nyuur, executive secretary of OneGhana Movement, on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the double disaster, media organizations and other civic-minded entities were invited to join them in this struggle for justice and greater responsibility for public service. institutions.
On June 3, 2015 marked a dark day in the history of Ghana, the rains turned into a devastating disaster causing fires and floods.
154 people died, more than 100 suffered permanent physical disabilities
A total of 154 people died and more than 199 others suffered serious burns, resulting in permanent physical disabilities that severely compromised their ability to enter the labor market.
No public or corporate responsible punished
The OneGhana Movement, an organization of opinion leaders, said it was disheartening and disappointing that no public or company accountable was held responsible for non-compliance. respect for his duty of care to the people of Ghana, especially the victims.
"It is even sadder that a disaster of this magnitude has been treated like the ones before; official speeches interspersed with empty platitudes followed by a great silence, "he added.
The ministerial committee report that investigated the disasters attributed them to flooding, poor safety practices at the GOIL gas station and a cigarette spark by a person who has since been identified.
Floods were attributed to obstructions in the main drains of Accra, due to non-de-fouling of the drains, as well as the construction of settlements and squatter dwellings along the storm drains.
It was observed that the lower reaches of the Odaw River in the area known as "Sodom Gomorrah" had been blocked by settlers, who had recovered substantial portions of the Odaw Channel and built houses, mosques, churches and a market, reducing the Odaw Cbad's discharge capacity in the Korle Lagoon.
The OneGhana Movement noted that it should have been obvious to public institutions and concerned officials that establishing human settlements along storm sewers would inevitably result in deeper and deeper drains. unable to prevent flooding.
Dereliction of duty
The group regretted that such a failure to perform his duties resulted in the death and inability of citizens to pay taxes on which these same officials are supported.
Transvestite justice
According to the statement, it would be paradoxical for successive governments to sit and allow those who exchanged political opportunities to fulfill their duty of care to the public not to be held personally liable for the damage caused by their irresponsibility. . because.
Hold public officials personally responsible
In addition to blame for institutional failures, he said it was high time that officials were held personally responsible for failing to perform duty resulting in injury, property damage and death.
"We believe that the institutionalization of such a culture will force public servants to carry out their duties in order to manage their own affairs.
"We expect the courts to incorporate this important paradigm into their methodology for rendering justice to state authorities," added the official.
Role of GOIL gas station managers
OneGhana Movement noted that the inability of the GOIL gas station to ensure that the underground tank hatch was properly closed allowed the water to project the fuel to the surface, which would lead to a possible disaster fire.
The investigation report of the committee that investigated the disaster indicated that the station, and by extension the GOIL officials, had already been warned of their poor security practices.
As a result, the group believes that GOIL, by failing to take care of the public, has contributed to the loss of life.
It is also instructive to note that the Shell gas station opposite the GOIL station has not been replaced with fuel from its underground tanks, even though it has also been flooded, the statement said.
Therefore, the OneGhana Movement wants the failures of every GOIL leader to be brought to justice and justice done for all victims.
Justice 4 Campaign of the 3 victims (J4J3)
On June 2, 2017, two years after the disaster, the OneGhana Movement, in line with its goals of citizen responsibility and political accountability, launched the "Justice June 4 (J4J3)" campaign, which aims to obtain justice for victims of preventable disasters of June 3rd. .
The main objectives of this "Justice 4 June 3" project are to obtain fair compensation for the victims and to hold corporations, public officials and institutions accountable for their acts and inactions.
Clbad action against GOIL, AMA, NPA
As a result, the victims and the OneGhana movement have since, through their attorneys, Darko, Keli-Delataa & Co. and A-Partners @ Law, filed a clbad action lawsuit against Ghana Oil (GOIL), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Accra. Metropolitan Authority (AMA) for their complicity in the disaster.
"As the trial continues, we hope that justice will not only be fair compensation for the victims and their families, but a punishment for those responsible," he said.
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