Accra Mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije has revealed that 108 families which were affected in the June 3 flood and fire disaster have received compensation from government.

Speaking at a memorial service to commemorate the incident, the Mayor said a lot of lessons have been learnt from the disaster and a lot has been done to avert a recurrence.

He said “108 families have been taken care of. We are a people who care and recognizing and noticing that members of our families were affected, we put into action a plan to identify our dead brothers and sisters.”

He indicated that the remaining families will also be compensated once they have been identified.

A victim of the disaster receiving treatment

Also, 15 affected persons who were disfigured as a result of the disaster have been identified and government support has been paid to them.

“All who were hospitalized had their medical bills paid by government, more individuals will be acknowledged and their support will be paid to them” he added.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 will be remembered as one of the worst days in the life of Ghanaians.

At least 153 pedestrians, motorists, shop attendants, food vendors, hairdressers, and many others lost their lives in a combined fire and flooding disaster at the Goil filling station at Kwame Nkrumah circle in Accra.

Properties worth millions of Ghana cedis were destroyed in the inferno following an explosion at the filling station.

Dr Vanderpuije said government is not resting on its oars, but is doing everything possible to ensure that all drains in and around the capital, Accra are desilted.

“It is important to note that after June 3, 420,000 metric  tonnes of silt has been dredged out of the Korle Lagoon. That represents about 45 percent of the work that needs to be done in the Korle Lagoon and the Odaw river.

“That work is constantly ongoing. We have three dredgers sitting in the Korle and the Odaw river constantly working, 24/7”.

He added that massive clean up exercises have taken place and will continue throughout Circle, Abossey Okai and Kaneshie areas.

Recommendations of the Goil Fire Investigative Committee, he indicated, are being seriously implemented along with fire safety education programmes to educate residents and motorists on how to handle fire.

“Constant ongoing desilting of minor drains throughout the city of Accra and other areas will continue to ensure that indeed June 3 has come to be a thing of the past,” he noted.