Government has assured residents of Apeati that houses destroyed in last Thursday’s explosion in the community will be reconstructed.
In connection with that, the State Housing Company (SHC) has been commissioned to immediately fashion out plans to reconstruct the town, which was reduced to rubbles as a result of the explosion.
Working through SHC, and in collaboration with mining firms operating in the Bogoso area, the government will provide affordable housing for those whose houses were destroyed in the blast.
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia disclosed this on Friday when he led a government delegation to the accident scene to commiserate with the victims of the blast, which claimed some 17 lives, and left scores injured.
Information available to the Daily Statesman indicates that officials of SHC have already visited the town to enumerate the affected houses and mark them for reconstruction.
The SHC technical team was led by its Western Regional head, Mr Kingsley Hagan.
According to the Western Regional Minister, most of the 200 residents displaced by the explosion are currently being sheltered in temporary structures, including some local churches. Others are also lodging with friends and relations in neighbouring communities.
“But I want to assure them that government is making fervent plans for them to go back to their own houses within the shortest possible time,” he stressed during the visit by the government delegation.
Intervention
The delegation presented the victims with relief items worth thousands of cedis. The items included rice, sugar, cooking oil, second hand clothing, among others. The victims have also been given a total amount of GHC 200, 000.
The money was presented by Vice-President Bawumia, who assured the government would bear the cost of medical care, and other support for the families of victims.
“This is a sad day for all of us. On behalf of President Akufo-Addo and the entire government, I wish to convey our condolences to the families of the bereaved and wish the injured a speedy recovery. We will take the necessary steps and learn the necessary lessons from this disaster, but we are more concerned now about your welfare.
“We will be fully engaged in bringing relief to all the persons involved, and while we continue to assess the extent of damage, we have made provision for your medical and other bills,” Dr Bawumia stated.
Investigations
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who was part of the delegation, said his ministry was working with the Minerals Commission and the security agencies to complete investigations into the incident.
Mr Jinapor assured the public that the investigations would be thorough and comprehensive, adding that any public official who would be found culpable would be made to face the full rigours of the law.
Mr Jinapor said any person found to have flouted these regulations will be made to face the law.
He added that the government would implement all recommendations that would result from the investigations to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future.
According to the Minister, meetings will be held among all stakeholders, including mining companies, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and mine support service companies, to discuss the entire regime of handling and using explosives, and other hazardous chemicals for mining. He explained that the goal is to develop safe and healthy mining operations and support services in the country.
Disaster
A vehicle carrying explosives used in mining collided with a motorcycle and blew up at Apeati, a town near Bogoso in the Western Region, last week Thursday, leaving at least 17 people dead and injuring dozens, according to the government.
Videos from the scene posted on social media on Thursday showed a large blast area, with dozens of buildings reduced to piles of wood, brick and twisted metal.
“A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released earlier.
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