June 3 survivors appeal for jobs
Some survivors of the June 3 disaster have appealed to the government to come to aid them with jobs to enable them to rebuild their lives.
Many of the survivors, primarily drivers, said they had been struggling to find employment due to the severe burns they sustained during the disaster on June 3, 2015.
They explained that the burns have significantly altered their appearance, making it difficult for them to secure work as drivers.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the survivors recalled the support provided by President John Dramani Mahama in the aftermath of the tragedy.
They, therefore, expressed the hope that with his return as the President, he would continue to prioritise their welfare and ensure that their needs were addressed.
Ceremony
The Chairman of the Flood and Fire Victims Association, Thomas Sekyi, expressed gratitude to the media for highlighting their plight 10 years after the disaster, but lamented the lack of support for the victims.
He disclosed that the victims had taken it upon themselves to hold remembrance ceremonies at the disaster site to honour the deceased and thank God for their own survival, adding that a similar ceremony would be marked this year.
Mr Sekyi indicated that in spite of their efforts to work with the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), they were often met with indifference.
He appealed to the government to show empathy and provide job opportunities, allowing them to support themselves and their families without having to beg.
The chairman of the association also called on benevolent organisations and individuals to assist survivors who were fit to work but struggling to find employment.
“We are appealing to benevolent organisations and individuals not to forget us, but to support us.
There are survivors among us who are now fit to work,” Mr Sekyi said.
A survivor, Kasim Suraj, said he commuted from Kasoa to the 37 Military Hospital for ongoing medical reviews.
He said he was still undergoing surgeries for head injuries, with bone fragments still being removed.
He appealed to the government, the public, religious bodies, organisations, and benevolent groups for financial assistance and a vehicle so he can work to take care of his children after losing his wife.
“I want to work. If I get a car to work with I can take care of my family properly,” he said.
Also, recalling former President Mahama's promise to establish a support fund for victims, Mr Suraj expressed the hope for its realisation to alleviate his hardships.
Work
Another survivor, Alex Mensah, said he relied on friends' kindness to borrow cars for work, but dreamed of owning his own vehicle.
"It's tough to find someone willing to lend their car, but I'm managing to work a bit to support my family," he said and also expressed hope in President Mahama to change the narrative.
A driver, Kofi Arhin, (not a victim), who works within the disaster enclave, was visibly not happy with the current state of the disaster victims and urged the media to consistently report on the living conditions of June 3 survivors, rather than just commemorating the anniversary.
Background
The twin fire and flood disaster 10 years ago left more than 150 people dead.
Also, houses and properties running into billions of Ghana cedis were destroyed.
The victims were seeking shelter at the GOIL Filling Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle during a downpour.
Unfortunately, fuel leakage from underground tanks at the station mixed with run-off rainwater led to an explosion of fire that engulfed persons seeking refuge from the rain at the station.
