Over 50 persons displaced by the Appiatse explosion have once again had their lives disrupted, this time by a rainstorm. Following the explosion that claimed over thirteen lives, the residents had been staying at the Odumase relief camp, ahead of the rebuilding of the Appiatse community. The destruction of some tents by the rainfall happened just about an hour after the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy visited the camp yesterday. The Deputy NADMO Director for Prestea-Huni-Valley, Louis Afful, has called for immediate support to restore the tents to offer some relief for the affected persons. “Before the MCE and officials came here, NADMO even told them we need to work on new homes with immediate effect,” Mr. Afful said. The Appiatse Support Fund, which was set up to mobilise adequate funds to rebuild the community destroyed by the fatal explosion, has received over GHS 35 million in donations so far.
It is however unclear how soon the rebuilding will start and be fully ready for the residents to move in permanently. The explosion killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 100 others, and also leveled the majority of the several buildings in the area.
hasten reconstruction site
Speaking to journalists in an interview, the displaced residents appealed to government to hasten the work on the Appiatse reconstruction site as the rainy season sets in. According to them, it would be more disastrous for them if government failed to relocate them early to their permanent place of abode. The leader of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Mr Elvis Morris Donkoh after their visit to the area promised that, members of the Committee would add their voice for government to hasten the project to relocate them to a safer place. He urged the Chief of the Appiatse who is a member of the reconstruction committee to help ensure that, all donations are received by the affected people. The ranking member of the Committee, Mr. John Abu Jinapor also called on government to expedite actions towards the reconstruction as the raining season approaches.
GH¢35 million not enough for Appiatse reconstruction
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee has said the over GH¢35 million received as donations to the Appiatse Support Fund is not sufficient to rebuild the community. According to her, although the sum is not sufficient, the Fund is, however, grateful for all contributions made so far. Addressing journalists in Accra, she said, "This amount notwithstanding, we are far from reaching what we would call sufficient funds. This is because the extent of damage to the Appiatse Township cannot be overemphasized and this amount raised so far will not be adequate"
Dr Joyce Aryee
Dr. Joyce Aryee made this declaration when the Appiatse Support Fund Committee held a press briefing on Monday April 4, 2022 to among others update the general public on funds received so far. She also stated clearly that the monies collected do not include the US$5 million fine allotted to Maxam Company Limited to pay into the fund, disclosing that Maxam is yet to pay that fine through the Minerals Commission. She further opined that, for the purpose of utmost transparency, the committee will at an appropriate time, make available to the press and the general public the list of corporate institutions and individuals who have donated both in cash and kind to the fund which is also captured in the bank statements of the Fund. The Chairman of the Support Fund Committee, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee also made a passionate appeal to all who are yet to donate in order to ensure that the people of Appiatse, are relieved from the untold hardship and damage to their properties. "We are still insisting on our hashtag: “obiara entuabi” to enable us make this project a reality" She hoped that every means available will be employed to equip the Reconstruction Implementation Team with the requisite funds to construct an eco-friendly, green and sustainable town that is energy efficient. She expressed her profound gratitude on behalf of her team and people of Appiatse to all those who have donated and assured that the Committee would work collaboratively with the Reconstruction Implementation Committee to bring Appiatse back on its feet. Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team who joined the briefing further explained that the amount of work to be done at Appiatse would determine the exact amount the Fund would need to raise for completion of the project. He asked Ghanaians through the media to be patient while they put together an inventory to know how much will be needed, adding that the exact quotation of amount will also depend on the contractor who is awarded the contract to reconstruct the community. Blankson Hermans, a member of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team and representative from the Ghana Institute of Architects gave a summary of activities of the Reconstruction Implementation Committee thus far. "For the time period that we've been working, we've come up with a land use plan which was developed by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority. It forms the basis for the design that will be used for the provision of the housing and commercial facilities for the community" He said "So we've inspected a root going through the main town and out of it, we've got about 120 of 126-bedroom houses to reconstruct. But essentially, as we develop, what we are doing now is to start with the road networks by April ending and we hope to meet that deadline" he concluded.
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