“Dumsor vigil caused flood and fire disaster” – Ga Traditional Council

The Ga Traditional Council has blamed the #DumsorMustStop vigil for the recent flood and fire disaster that killed over 150 people.

The June 3, disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle occurred following that resulted in flooding of the area. Fuel suspected to have leaked from the Goil Filling Station near the GCB Tower at Circle caught fire and burnt the fuel station and some nearby buildings. Most of the people who got burnt were seeking shelter from the flooding at the fuel station and nearby buildings.

Government has ordered an investigation into the disaster. Before the investigation is completed, however, the Ga Traditional Council says the May 16, protest march over the power crises is responsible for the disaster.

At a press conference in Accra today, the acting President of the Ga Traditional Council, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II, recounted a number of incidents in the past which violated the traditional rules and regulations governing the ban on drumming and noise making and linked them to disasters.

He said the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster which killed 127 people occurred when there was a ban on drumming and noise making. He noted that last year, the Bukom Banku and Ayitey Powers’ boxing event also happened when the ban was in place. This year, he said the ban was again violated by the #DumsorMustStop vigil, leading the disastrous consequences.

The #DumsorMustStop vigil was spearheaded by actress Yvonne Nelson and was massively patronized by Ghanaians from all spheres of life. The Ga Traditional Council had petitioned the police to stop the vigil, saying the vigil would flout the traditional rules of the place.

Before the press conference, the Ga Traditional Council and the Mayor of Accra, had toured the disaster scene after which the mayor, Alfred Oko Vanderpuije promised government’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the floods.