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Survivors of recent flood and fire disasters at the Goil filling station are accusing officials of the Osu Klottey Sub-Metro branch of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) of treating them as refugees in their own country.

The victims, numbering about 150, who were seen at the premises of the Osu Klottey branch of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly yesterday morning looked dejected and worried about the treatment meted out to them by the NADMO officials.

They complained bitterly about the tone and language used in communicating to them, adding that “We did not wish for this disaster on us. Some of us were also responsible and well to do people before this catastrophic event.” 

Speaking to the Daily Heritage in an interview, a retired Principal Inspector of Taxes of the Ghana Revenue Authority and a leader of the victims, Lily Lokko said the whole controversy started immediately after they received donations from the Progressive People's Party (PPP).

Madam Lokko stated that after the donation, “I went to NADMO to inquire about when they are going to share the items- they started shouting at us, asking us to leave their premises because we have already received some blankets, mattresses and clothes.

“We told them that the items PPP brought were merely food stuffs which were badly needed so I asked them if we are going to cook the blanket, mattresses and clothes to eat.

“Come and see, they were shouting on us, insulting us, so some of the elderly people among us took offense and refused to come for the items which were shared later in the evening.” she said.

The retired tax expert reiterated that the rice, yams, sugar and other food stuffs donated so far could not solve their problems, but because it is immediate they need the items to survive before they recover from the trauma and the shock.

She revealed that government relief items from NADMO were woefully inadequate because five people were to share a bag of rice.

“It would have been callous on our part to have received relief items and pretended as if nothing had come to us, knowing very well that we are not the only affected victims,” she added.

She said when the incident happened; NADMO officials came around and took data of affected victims “so when it comes to the sharing of items they should follow the same protocol.”

They are, therefore, appealing to the government and the private sector to provide them with basic necessities such as water, food and medicines.