President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday made a personal donation of GH¢100,000 to the Appiatse Support Fund, which has been established by Government following the explosion in the community that killed over a dozen people, injured many and rendered hundreds homeless.
He has become the first person to donate to the Fund at a short ceremony at Jubilee House in Accra as his administration pledged to support the Fund with the necessary resources to rebuild the community.
President Akufo-Addo regretted that the incident resulted in loss of life and property, injuries, and the destruction of the entire community.
He said he was deeply saddened by the tragedy and that thus sent the Vice President, and other senior Government officials, to commiserate with the people.
President Akufo-Addo expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured speedy recovery.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to pay in full the medical bills of all the injured.
The President also said Government was committed to supporting the victims and rebuilding the community, and hence the establishment of the Fund.
The President also said he has tasked the security agencies to conduct full and impartial investigations into the matter, and anyone found culpable will be made to face the law.
He called on all well-meaning Ghanaians and foreigners, as well as corporate Ghana, to donate generously to the Fund to speed up the reconstruction of the community.
The Fund
Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo Constituency, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, said the purpose of the Fund is to, among others, support the victims of the incident and reconstruct the Appiatse community.
The Minister has also inaugurated a five-member committee, chaired by a former Minister and Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, to manage the fund, with the charge to raise sufficient funds, and supervise its disbursement in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and transparency for the benefit of the Appiatse community.
The Minister later led a Government delegation to inspect the community to begin the process of reconstruction.
Receiving the donation, the Chairperson of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Dr. Joyce Aryee thanked the President for the generous gesture.
She said she hoped that the donation by the President will encourage more people to donate to the Fund to support the victims and the reconstruction of the community.
The Appiatse Support Fund was established following an explosion which occurred when a truck carrying explosives for mining was involved in an accident at the town.
Thirteen people died from the incident while over hundred people suffered various degrees of injuries.
The community was razed down by the explosion. Government established the Fund to support the community.
The other members of the Committee that will manage the Fund are Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyi II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Mr. Philip Owiredu, Managing Director of Cal Bank, Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Mr. Sulemanu Koney, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
