June 3 survivor pursues poultry farming; Grateful to Graphic for support

A 41-year-old survivor of the June 3 flood and fire disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange in Accra has thanked the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL) for supporting him to start a poultry farm business after his discharge from the 37 Military Hospital in January this year.

Mr Kasim Suraj received GH¢10,000 in cash from the company and an additional support for spectacles to improve his sight which had been impaired following the accident.

At least 150 people died in the 2015 disaster, with many others sustaining various degrees of injury in the floating fire.

Mr Suraj, then a commercial bus driver, sustained head injuries and about 60 per cent total surface burns with inhalation injury during the disaster in 2015.

Over the years, he has undergone several surgeries and has healed from the burns on his body, and now only visits the hospital for review.

The Daily Graphic chanced on his story while he was undergoing treatment during a prolonged admission at the military facility last year, and the company showed empathy and offered the support.

Poultry business

Last Tuesday, he told the Daily Graphic that although he received overwhelming support from the government, individuals and other organisations during his treatment and recovery process, things became very difficult at a point for himself and his family.

The support from the GCGL came in at the crucial point to set him up on the path of rehabilitation.

He started the poultry farm in February this year, just weeks after his latest discharge from hospital.

“The poultry farm business has helped me a lot; now almost every person in the neighbourhood buys their eggs from me, and business is doing very well,” he said.

“I want to extend my appreciation to the GCGL and ask for God’s blessing upon their lives,” he said.

Filled with emotions, the father of four said he marked the fifth anniversary of the disaster with traumatising memory of pain and near death with gratitude to God for saving and sustaining him.

June 3 Disaster

The June 3, 2015 disaster claimed more than 150 lives and injured more than 100 people.

Some of the victims were seeking shelter at the GOIL Filling Station around the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange during a downpour, but fuel leakage from underground tanks at the station got mixed with run-off rainwater, which led to an explosion of fire.