AMA Disburses GH�88,000 To Melcom Disaster Victims

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly(AMA) has disbursed GH�88,000 to the victims and the families of those who died in the November 2012 Melcom disaster at Achimota. Family members of the 14 people who died and the victims who survived the disaster received their cheques from the Finance Department of the assembly last Monday. The fund has now generated GH�91,000 since its establishment soon after the disaster in November. After an interaction with victims of the disaster, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Dr Alfred Vanderpuye, said the families of the 14 people who died in the accident would receive GH�1,500 each, while the surviving victims would get GH�1,000 each. The November 7, 2012 Melcom disaster left 14 dead, with 67 others sustaining various degrees of injury. Rescuers worked tirelessly for days to pull out people who had been trapped under the debris of concrete slabs, pillars and iron rods. Giving the breakdown, Dr Vanderpuye said the total amount to be spent would be GH�88,000, leaving GH�30,000 in the fund to be disbursed as soon as the amount increased substantially. The government had, earlier, given each of the 14 deceased families GH�10,000 towards the funeral rites and burial of the deceased. Among those who contributed to the fund are Zoomlion Ghana Limited, GH�20,000; Exclusive Events, organisers of the Miss Ghana Beauty pageant, GH�5,000; Nowark, GH�5,000; Emmanuel Moore, GH�5,000; Frances Asiam, GH�1,000, and Melcom Ghana, GH�25,000. �It is the government�s commitment to ensure that no one suffers more than they had already as a result of the disaster,� Dr Vanderpuye said. He advised the victims to discuss every issue that bordered on their welfare with the management of Melcom who, he said, had assured him that they would address those issues.