Government has authorised the testing of DNA samples on bodies of last Wednesday’s flood and fire disaster at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra.
Speaking at the one week memorial service for the victims held at the forecourt of the State House, President Mahama said several bodies have still not been identified and a DNA test will help family members claim their relatives for the necessary funeral rites.
He said, “In due course each of the names will be released to the public to ensure that these individuals will be remembered eternally. We are still in the process of identifying the dead. To that end government has given authorization for DNA tests to be conducted on the bodies from the disaster that have not yet been identified.”
He added that “This will allow families that are unsure of the fate of their members and who are still not accounted for to be able to bring DNA samples so confirmation can be made. With this official confirmation, claims can be quickly granted for the return of their loved ones’ remains.”
He said, "We will intensify our efforts to ease the suffering of those whose lives have been affected."
The President has also asked relatives to visit the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital to seek guidance on how to go about this.
He also revealed that the official death toll from the twin disaster stands at 152 contrary to reports by sections of the media that over 200 hundred people perished in the disaster.
"Our search and rescue is over and our provisional death toll from the disaster is 152," he said.
Over 150 people lost their lives in a GOIL fuel station explosion at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle in Accra after long hours of a heavy downpour which also flooded the city.
The inter-faith, inter-denominational National Memorial Service will be held at the forecourt of the State House.
Wednesday 10 June 2015
http://pulse.com.gh/news/accra-twin-disaster-govt-directs-dna-test-for-unidentified-flood-fire-victims-id3849548.html
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