We have just finished a National Crisis Meeting to review the national disasters that have hit our nation, leading to what the security and emergency services have officially counted to be about 150 deaths.
The official toll will be known after the search and rescue exercise is over.
Earlier this morning, as early as 6.30am, I visited the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange Area after spending the night and early dawn monitoring the situation and receiving briefing from my Service Commanders.
A leakage from a GOIL service station located close to the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange caused an explosion that killed many people who had sought shelter there from the torrential downpour that had inundated the city. The inferno quickly spread and engulfed a nearby pharmacy and several properties adjoining the filling station claiming more casualties.
It took extraordinary work by personnel of the Ghana Fire Service to prevent the fire from spreading to the Ghana Commercial Bank building close by.
On behalf of the people of Ghana, I convey my sincere sympathies to the families and relations of the persons affected by the fire disaster.
Obviously, the casualties from the fire disaster increased because of the heavy rains and resultant flooding of many areas including the immediate vicinity of the GOIL station.
Over the past 3 days various parts of Accra recorded varied measurements of torrential rainfall. The highest recorded amounted to about 269.2 millimetres. This was far above the highest measurement of 180.4 millimetres that fell in Accra over a 2-day period last year.
While floods are a natural characteristic of rivers and streams in their lower courses, the severity and damage they can cause are exacerbated by uncontrolled human settlement and activity.
Accra lies in the flood plain of several rivers and streams that take their sources from the Akwapim Mountain Range.
Ground saturation caused by the heavy downpour of the last 3 days, together with human activity such as unbridled littering and building in waterways has resulted in impeding the flow of these rivers and streams into the sea and thereby caused unprecedented flooding in several parts of the capital city.
There have naturally been resultant effects, including destruction of buildings, washing away of vehicles with passengers in them, and many victims drowned in the resultant floods.
Many other Ghanaians were trapped in the traffic chaos that occurred as a result of the high water in many areas.
A tragedy of this magnitude requires a strong and concerted response and that is what government and many Ghanaians are currently offering.
Our security and emergency services and indeed Ghanaians have all joined hands and in a spirit of unity and are offering support to victims of these disasters.
I wish to salute the members of our security and emergency services for their gallant response to the search and rescue exercise declared yesterday. But for their diligence, it is obvious many more would have perished. Many of them have not had any rest over the past 24 hours.
I also wish to acknowledge and commend the sense of solidarity displayed by political party Chairpersons and General Secretaries who upon learning the magnitude of the disaster visited the affected areas together.
This show of nationalism devoid of partisanship has greatly uplifted the spirits of our people at a time of great national tragedy.
From the weather warnings announced by the Ghana Meteorological Agency, we can expect more rain over an extended period of time, especially within the next two weeks. It requires proper emergency services planning to ensure that any challenges are effectively tackled.
Accordingly, the NADMO and the Ghana Armed Forces will be providing and setting up emergency shelter zones to provide refuge for persons displaced by the flooding.
Several locations would be designated for such shelters and I appeal to our churches and mosques to make their premises and facilities available to provide additional shelter to displaced persons in their communities.
A National Call Centre has been activated and will be available for the public to call to report emergencies, provide information and send out alerts. The number to call to reach the National Call Centre is 112 from all Vodafone, MTN and Airtel lines.
The Ministry of Communications will be working with the various media houses to put out weather warnings, safety tips and promotion of the National Emergency Call Centre number, 112 and other emergency lines.
The Ministry of Health has provided a number of ambulances dedicated to the National Disaster Operations Centre for call-up and use where need be. The Ministry has also activated the necessary structures and started work towards preventing any probable health outbreak, including cholera.
I encourage all Ghanaians especially residents in flood-prone areas to observe these warnings and safety tips to minimize casualties in event of future flooding.
Government has allocated an amount of GH˘50 million to cover relief and humanitarian operations, repair of damaged public infrastructure, and desilting and clearing of waterways.
Our current priority now is to save lives and prevent any further suffering of our people. Beyond that we will take the tough measures that are necessary to prevent such disasters in future.
The National Disaster Management Organisation, the Hydrology Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and the City Authorities will also work to coordinate the clearing and expansion of our waterways and the de-silting of our drains.
Drastic steps are necessary here if we are to permanently address this perennial problem. We will intensify efforts to expand and modernize our drainage system.
In this endeavour, I request your understanding and cooperation as Ghanaians to set right what has been wrong with our country for far too long.
We cannot continue to allow a situation where the convenience of a few undermines the safety of many.
Search and rescue operations will continue till the weekend. On Monday we will observe 3 days of national mourning for the victims of the fire disaster and the flooding.
Flags will fly at half-mast.
Fellow Ghanaians as we mourn the deceased today and the days ahead let us work together as one team and a nation united in grief but determined not to ever have a repeat of such a national disaster.
I will continue to count on your best intensions and efforts as we work together to heal the injured, console the bereaved families and implement strategies to avoid a recurrence.
Thank you.
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