APEATSE EXPLOSION: NDC cancels WR outreach & mourns with families of the dead

Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reacted to Thursday’s explosion at Apeatse in the Western Region, expressing its deep sorrow and condolences to “the families of all persons who lost their lives”. The party has also cancelled its outreach programme in the region.

17 people have so far been confirmed dead with 59 others suffering various degrees of injury. The explosion has reduced the town into rubbles, with the police encouraging the unaffected inhabitants to move to nearby communities.

Thursday afternoon’s explosion resulted from a collision involving a truck transporting mining explosive to the Chirano Gold Mines, a motorcycle and a third vehicle near an electricity transformer in the town of Appiatse.

The NDC notes that “no one could have foreseen a calamity of such magnitude” befalling the people of Apeatse and is praying for a speedy recovery of all injured persons.

A statement signed by National Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo appealed to government to leave no stone unturned in mobilizing “the necessary emergency health and disaster relief needed to bring succour to the injured and all displaced persons.”

“With a reported estimate of 95% of all households in Apeatse reduced to rubble due to the impact of this disaster, it stands to reason that government must double-up its efforts in finding temporary shelter for all displaced persons while urgent steps are taken to reconstruct the town and bring normalcy back to the lives of the good people of Apeatse”, the statement added.

According to the National Chairman, the NDC’s ongoing outreach programme has been suspended in the Western Region. He directed the regional executives of the party to rather visit and commiserate with the victims of the disaster.