June 3: Survivors of twin disaster lament over unpaid compensation

Some victims who survived the June 3, 2015, disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra are calling on the government to commit to the compensation packages promised them.

The 2015 episode saw an explosion at a fuel station during a heavy downpour which flooded parts of the Kwame Nkrumah Circle leaving over 100 people dead and others sustaining various degrees of burns and injuries.

Speaking to GhanaWeb, survivor of the June 3 disaster Uchenna Akposhia said he is yet to receive compensation from the government.

“I am a hustler. I spent five months in the hospital and when I was released, I could not get back on my feet. My wife left me because I could not fend for her after I got out of the hospital.

“As I am talking to you now, I even need some money to do other surgeries to correct some injuries I sustained. All the donations I received were out of people’s benevolence. The government of Ghana promised us some money but as at now, I have received nothing,” he added.

Another survivor who gave his name as Thomas Asiedu also told GhanaWeb that it has been a tough challenge trying to access his share of the disbursement.

“Five years later, I am yet to receive any substantial disbursements. Government created a fund for the victims of the disaster. The only funds that some of us have received are from a donation made by the President of Benin which the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) disbursed.”

“Where are the funds that were donated to the victims, and why have they not been disbursed even five years after the disaster?” he quizzed.

Ruth Asiamah is also a survivor who lost her sister to the disaster. She told GhanaWeb that her compensation has been paid.

Meanwhile, some surviving victims have sued some government entities over their alleged complicity in the accident.

A statement released by the victims and the OneGhana Movement said “through their lawyers, (A-Partners @ Law) and (Darko, Keli-Delataa & Co.), commenced a class action suit against Ghana Oil (GOIL), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Accra Metropolitan Authority (AMA) for their complicity in the disaster”.