Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Member of Parliament for Klottey-Korle, ‘shed tears on the floor of Parliament’ as she delivered a heartfelt statement to mark the 10th anniversary of the tragic June 3 disaster that claimed over 150 lives.
Marking a decade since the horrifying twin disaster of flooding and fire at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Dr. Zanetor—who also chairs Parliament’s Intelligence Committee—condemned the state’s continued failure to address the structural and environmental lapses that led to the catastrophe.
“As we reflect today, we must remember that the lives lost were not just numbers in a statistic. They were parents, children, workers, friends, and neighbours,” she stated, her voice trembling with emotion.
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Describing the disaster as a “painful symbol of neglect,” the MP lamented that the conditions that allowed such a tragedy to occur remain largely unresolved. She pointed to chronic failures in urban planning, poor drainage, weak enforcement of building codes, and indiscriminate waste disposal as ongoing threats to public safety.
“Plastic continues to choke our drains. Houses are still being built in waterways. Waste continues to be dumped in gutters. These are not just environmental issues—they are issues of governance, leadership, and justice,” she said.
Dr. Zanetor did not hold back in criticising the lack of political will and institutional discipline, noting how well-drafted plans have repeatedly gathered dust instead of being implemented. “We’ve had plans—but plans without implementation are simply words on paper,” she fumed.
One example she cited was the controversial reallocation of funds from the $200 million Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project—$65 million of which, she said, was inexplicably diverted to COVID-19-related expenses. She also drew attention to unheeded findings in the Auditor-General’s performance audits on flood control.
Dr. Zanetor extended gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for fulfilling his promise to initiate proper dredging works on the Odaw River. She expressed hope that these works would mark the beginning of real change.
“I am especially thankful that he has kept his word to ensure the works not only commenced but are being done properly. It is our collective hope that this commitment will be sustained until we see real transformation in the lives of our people,” she said.
Ten years on, the June 3 2015 disaster remains not just a tragic memory, but a damning indictment of systemic failure—a wound still open, a lesson still unlearned.