The Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle, Hon. Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has reflected with deep emotion the devastating June 3rd, 2015 disaster that claimed over 150 lives, tore families apart, destroyed livelihoods, and left survivors with lifelong trauma.
In a statement read on the floor of Parliament to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the tragedy, the Klottey-Korle legislator – who also serves as Chairperson of Parliament’s Intelligence Committee – described the dual disaster of flooding and fire at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle as a grim reminder of the consequences of poor urban planning, environmental degradation, and weak disaster preparedness.
“As we reflect today, we must remember that the lives lost were not just numbers in a statistic. They were parents, children, workers, friends, and neighbours,” she said.
With a noticeable emotional tone, Hon. Zanetor stated, “Mr. Speaker, even a decade later, the emotional wounds remain raw for survivors, and the structural causes that led to this disaster still confront us daily. The convergence of unregulated development, weak enforcement of building codes, poor drainage systems, and decades of neglect in solid waste management remain pressing challenges.”
She emphasized that the tragedy also exposed the widespread lack of public awareness about the consequences of indiscriminate littering and poor waste disposal practices.
“Plastic continues to choke our drains. Houses are still being built in waterways. Waste continues to be dumped in gutters. These are not just environmental issues—they are issues of governance, leadership, and justice,” she added.
Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings lamented the nation’s chronic failure to implement well-drafted plans: “We’ve had plans—but plans without implementation are simply words on paper.”
She cited the reallocation of funds originally earmarked for flood mitigation projects as an example of misplaced priorities. “From the $200 million allocated to the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project—$65 million of which was mysteriously realigned to address COVID-19-related expenses—to the unheeded recommendations in the Auditor-General’s Performance Audit on flood control measures, we continue to miss opportunities for real progress,” she stressed.
Taking the opportunity to acknowledge recent interventions, Hon. Zanetor expressed sincere gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for his recent visit to inspect ongoing dredging works on the Odaw River—an effort she described as vital for mitigating floods in Klottey-Korle and beyond.
“I am especially thankful that he has kept his word to ensure the works not only commenced but are being done properly. It is our collective hope that this commitment will be sustained until we see real transformation in the lives of our people,” she added.
Accra Times
