As the one year anniversary of the June 3 disaster approaches, families and friends of survivors and those who died have begun commemoration by leaving behind pictures and banners at the epicentre close to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
The artwork is made entirely from plastic materials including bottles, sachet water, plastic bags and packaging that had been indiscriminately disposed
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One of such commemorative pieces is a sculpture that has proved to be a major spectacle for passer-bys.
The brain behind the artwork is artist an environmental advocate, Faisal Dauda popularly known as Mallam Concern.
Concerned about the sanitation problems the country face especially in Accra, he decided the best way to bring attention was through art at the epicentre.
The artwork is made entirely from plastic materials including bottles, sachet water, plastic bags and packaging that had been indiscriminately disposed.
Dauda then repurposed the materials to make a sculpture of a man (security personnel) carrying the charred body of a victim of the disaster.
According to Dauda, he decided to use plastic for his work because of its destructive role in causing the floods.
“Flooding always occurs when it rains here. And you can see on top of the water; plastic materials...So I believe this would create the awareness needed to solve this problem.”
Along with the artwork are inscriptions from Dauda calling on citizens to stop littering, keep the environment clean and a change of mindset about waste.
Dauda fears his message of cleanliness will be short lived as Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) officials have already told him to remove it. Officials of the AMA have been busy clearing up the site ahead of an expected visit of President John Mahama and other dignitaries on Friday, June 3, 2016.
On that day, which marks the anniversary of the disaster, there will be a memorial service at the Ernest Bruce Methodist Church in Adabraka to remember the departed. This will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Goil fuel station.