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| President John Dramani Mahama |
Ghana on Monday started observing a three-day national
mourning for people who lost their lives through flood and fire disasters in
the capital, Accra.
The double disaster
claimed over 200 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of U.S. dollars
last Wednesday.
The inferno followed
hours of prolonged downpour that led to power outages in several communities.
A large number of the
victims were believed to be taking shelter at a fuel station to escape the
downpour when an explosion occurred.
The Nation reports:
Hundreds more also
sustained various degrees of injury and are receiving treatment at different
hospitals in Accra.
President John Dramani
Mahama announced the three-day national mourning after a crisis meeting of the
national Security Council moments after the incident.
Flags were flown at
half-mast across the country up until Wednesday and government is encouraging
Ghanaians to wear black attire and red armbands during the period.
The three-day mourning
will end on Wednesday with a memorial service for the departed near the site of
the fire disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle to be attended by Mahama.
“As we go about our work
and duties during the three days, let us remember the victims and pray for
their souls.
“Let us also pray for
strength and comfort for their families and friends,” Edward Omane- Boamah,
Minister of Communications, said in a statement.
The government has
released 50 million cedis, approximately 15 million dollars to support victims
of the flood and explosion.
Mahama said after
visiting the accident scene that drastic steps were necessary if the country
was to permanently address the perennial flooding.
“We will intensify efforts
to expand and modernize our drainage,” he said.
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