THE 3RD
OF JUNE, 2015 would be remembered for all the wrong reasons. A dark
Wednesday where over 150 Ghanaians died and millions in properties lost due to
a downpour and a fire disaster at a filling station in the capital city, Accra.
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| Fire outbreak during the downpour |
This unfortunate tragedy has led to the declaration of three
(3) days of national mourning by the President. Accusing fingers are being
pointed to authorities and individuals as playing a role in this tragedy that
has befallen the city of Accra.
This is not the first time such an incident has happened.
Every year, since 1959, we have heard news of individual houses submerged in
water and life lost during the raining seasons. Each year, we mourn the losses,
declared the It- Shall (Should) - Never-
Happen- Again pledge yet each year the tragedy occurs with far-reaching effects
than the previous year.
So, why do we, as a country experience such perennial tragic event
which causes us to shed tears, mourn whenever it rains for more than two hours?
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| Newspaper report on the 1968 rainfall |
The answers are myriad. Some blame the city authorities for
taking curative measures than proactive steps. Others blame the citizens for
not behaving the way rational beings should. All of us are at fault in
contributing to such tragedy.
City
Authorities And Law Enforcement
Akua Akyaa Nkrumah (@akyaaN) of Green Ghana- an NGO promoting a clean and
green country/city argues that if the city authorities implement and enforce
the bye-laws on sanitation and building codes, such tragedies would be
curtailed. According to her, the nonchalant actions of the city authorities are
a major cause of the irrational behaviors towards promoting a cleaner and safe
environment.
It is uncommon to see ordinary citizens dumping rubbish in city
centres without recourse to common sense-that they must drop it in litter bins.
Others also choose to build structures on waterways with impudence.
If the city authorities choose to enforce the laws and
prosecute offenders not only would they have another source of generating funds
but also send signals to would be offenders to do the right.
Law enforcement must not be in vacuum. The city authorities
must provide bins and also ensure the rubbish is carted at the right time to
avoid a spill over. Again, the plan for the city must be followed. Where structures
are put up wrongfully, they must be demolished.
It is sad to note that, it is only in Ghana that development
precede planning. The net effect is the creation of an urban slum city than a
well planned city that we all desire. The promulgation of laws is to cure a
certain malady. And until it is enforced or implemented, its effects might not
be realized. Citizens will not live by the law unless they are forced to. And
this is what the city authorities must note.
Role of Citizens
It is true that for total development to be achieved, the
citizens must play a crucial role. As citizens we are expected to abide by the
laws of the land. This means that littering the streets deliberately litter
without recourse to common sense. It is a known fact that people dump their
rubbish into drains for the rains to carry to wherever.
Market centres and lorry stations being turned into dumpsite
in the city is nothing strange or new. It is an abnormality that we have come
to accept as normality. The city authorities are aware of the developments but
are either not bothered or overwhelmed by the filth generated each day at these
places.
A few months ago during the cholera outbreak, my friend Efo
Dela (@amegaxi) daily posted photos of uncollected rubbish at Kaneshie Market
on his social media outlets accompanied by rants. It took Nana Aba Anamoah of
TV3, who was tagged in Efo’s photo to announce on air before these rubbishes were
cleared.
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| Goil Filling Station disaster at Circle |
Visit The Makola No. 2 Market (Fire Service area) in the
Central Business District or the Tema Station and you would be embarrassed by
the filth and stench that welcomes you to the premises.Also,Take a tour of La around the Zenith College area and you will
see how estate developers have filled up the lagoon which served as a water
collection point and a discharge channel to the sea and have build on the path
of the lagoon. Greed and penchant to cut cost or corners have resulted in many
renting, building or buying homes on waterways and when disaster happens, come
to cry for government to bail them out.
The floods and its concomitant effects-loss of lives and
properties- is nothing new. What is new is the quantum of destruction it leaves
behind. Since 1959 through to 1968 to 1988 through to 1995, 2014 and 2015
(periods of high floods in Ghana) measures to curtail the destructive effect of
the rains has been ad hoc. City Authorities embark of demolishing of properties
on waterways and drain distillation. Concrete solutions such as implementation
of laws, banning plastics and proper waste disposals are slow to implement.
Unless we, the citizens begin to act right and the law
enforcement agencies also enforce the laws of the land, the mourning and crying
will become an annual event. Let’s all be responsible.
Man, it's frustrating. Some things should be basic.
ReplyDeleteCollection of rubbish shouldn't be so hard but for some reason it is.
Circle is a mess. Hawkers creating filth while authorities watch unperturbed.
But here is the kick, no lessons will be learnt. 2016 we will still be ranting
I think Its a collective effort. we all have a roll to play, but city authorities owe the rights and duties of making Accra a world class city. Remember the millennium city initiative ? what happened to it? just go right in front of the city's council head office and you will be surprised the refuse and filth in the drains.
ReplyDeletecity authorities have failed us,education service also failed us, adults are not even conscious about the environment how more the kids. we have a lot learn as nation but not through this painful way. This Must never happen again. R.I.P to them lost souls.