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‘Declare June 3 as National Burns awareness Day’
Survivors and families of victims of the June 3 flood and fire disaster on Wednesday renewed the call for justice and compensation, expressing concern over what they described as an 11-year delay in holding responsible institutions accountable for one of Ghana’s worst tragedies.
At a press briefing in Accra to commemorate the 11th anniversary of the disaster, the Convener of the OneGhana Movement, Mr Senyo Hosi, said many victims continued to suffer physical, emotional and economic hardships while the legal process remained unresolved.
The June 3, 2015 disaster occurred when heavy flooding in Accra combined with an explosion at a fuel station, resulting in the deaths of more than 150 people and injuries to over 200 others.
Mr Hosi stated that the tragedy was preventable and blamed both public institutions and private entities for failing to exercise their duty of care.
According to him, evidence presented during court proceedings showed that stronger regulation and enforcement of safety standards could have prevented the disaster.
He noted that witnesses from GOIL and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) had admitted during cross-examination that the incident could have been avoided through effective oversight and compliance with safety requirements.
Mr Hosi also criticised the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), accusing it of failing to enforce planning and safety regulations and displaying inconsistency during the legal proceedings.
He called on President John Dramani Mahama to ensure that the government’s ‘Resetting Ghana’ agenda addressed the concerns of the June 3 victims.
Mr Hosi stressed that national development and prosperity should not overlook the needs of vulnerable citizens who continued to bear the consequences of the disaster.
Providing an update on the legal case, lawyer for the victims, Mr Etornam Caleb Afutu, said the lawsuit filed in 2018 on behalf of 69 victims had entered its final stages after years of litigation.
He explained that the plaintiffs were seeking GH¢14 million in damages from GOIL, the NPA and the AMA for alleged negligence that resulted in loss of life, permanent disabilities and destruction of property.
Mr Afutu disclosed that the case against the fuel station dealer, Mr Tom Sinobinyanane, had been discontinued following his death.
He said seven victims had testified before the court, while witnesses for GOIL and the NPA had completed their evidence. The witness for the AMA was currently giving testimony.
Mr Afutu indicated that the court had scheduled further hearings for June 15 and June 18, and expressed confidence that the matter would be concluded before the end of the year, including subject to the completion of cross-examinations and the filing of written submissions.
The Chairman of the June 3 Victims Association, Mr Thomas Sakyi, said many survivors continued to struggle to rebuild their lives.
He explained that some victims had suffered permanent injuries, including hearing loss and other disabilities, while others had lost businesses, homes and sources of livelihood.
Mr Sakyi said the victims remained hopeful that justice would finally be served and that compensation would help restore dignity and provide relief to those affected by the disaster.
The victims appealed to the state and relevant institutions to ensure that similar tragedies were prevented through stronger regulation, effective enforcement of safety standards and accountability.
By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
