One more victim of the Appiatse explosion, which occurred in January 2022, has died.
Giving an update on the situation, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Appiatse Disaster Relief Committee, Thywill Quarshie, revealed that sadly Paul Asare, 38, gave up the ghost on Monday after complications.
“He was one of our severely injured victims that we were monitoring closely, but unfortunately, he ended up like this,” Mr. Quarshie disclosed.
Mr. Quarshie also mentioned that four more people are still in critical condition receiving treatment, adding that more support will be needed.
“Those who are in a position to still donate some cash should go on and do so because we still need money to take care of the medical needs of the people and other needs at the camp, where they are being sheltered,” Mr. Quarshie told Accra-based Citi FM.
Thirteen people lost their lives, and 59 others were injured as of 12 noon on Friday, 21 January, following the massive explosion at Appiatse, near Bogoso, a mining community located in the Western Region.
Additionally, 500 homes and 139 families were affected by the tragic incident.
Body parts of several deceased persons were strewed along some roads while buildings were reduced to rubbles.
A preliminary investigation by the Ghana Police Service revealed that a DAF truck, with registration number WR 2252-18, was conveying explosive material from MAXAM Company, Tarkwa, to Chirano Gold Mines in the Western North Region.
A motorcycle rider from the opposite direction is said to have run into the truck when it got to a section of the road between Bogoso and Bawdie. But the rider insists he did not collide with the explosive-carrying truck as being reported.
He indicated that he was rather hit by another vehicle from behind and rushed to a nearby health facility before the explosion even occurred.
Following the unfortunate disaster, a fund was set up to temporarily cater to the needs of the displaced victims and injured persons.
So far, the Appiatse Support Fund, which was set up to mobilise adequate funds to rebuild the community, has received over GH¢ 42 million in donations.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, said the money raised so far includes donations from individuals and corporate institutions.
“As of Monday, 6 June 2022, the committee had received cash donations of GH¢42,527,380.2. This amount includes the four instalment payments made by Maxam Ghana Limited.
“Out of this amount, GH¢1 million has been advanced to the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee to complete temporary structures to accommodate the victims of the incident, ending the reconstruction and undertaking preparatory works for the construction,” he said during a press briefing.
He indicated that the committee has also received non-monetary contributions such as “wood, cement, clothing and food items” from benevolent individuals.