Government has through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, launched an Appiatse Support Fund, to raise funds to support the people of Appiatse in the Prestea Huni-Valley District of the Western Region, who were affected by an explosion that occurred in the community on January 20, 2022.
It was reported that a truck carrying explosives from Maxam Ghana Limited, and intended for Chirano Gold Mines, was involved in an incident that caused the explosives to explode. The incident is said to have occurred when the truck carrying the explosives collided with a tricycle.
About 17 people were reported to have died from the explosion with scores of people injured.
The explosion also caused severe damage to buildings in the community, virtually razing the community to the ground.
The injured are being treated in nearby hospitals with those with severe injuries transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.
Government has already announced that it will pay in full the medical bills of all the injured.
The launch of the Appiatse Support Fund, is one of the measures Government has adopted to support the victims of the unfortunate incident.
Launching the Fund in Accra yesterday, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Damongo Constituency, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, said the launch of the Fund is on the instructions of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
He said the objective is to raise funds to among others, support the victims of the incident and reconstruct the community which was brought down by the explosion.
Mr Abu Jinapor said to ensure fair, transparent and judicious use of the Fund, Government has appointed a five-member independent committee, to manage the Fund.
The Committee is chaired by Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, a former Minister of State under President Jerry John Rawlings and former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines and a Companion of the Order of the Volta.
The other members of the Committee are Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyi II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area; Mr. Philip Owiredu, the Managing Director of Cal Bank; Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Policy Studies; and the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr. Sulemanu Koney.
According to the Minister, the terms of reference of the Committee are “to raise sufficient funds for the Appiatse Support Fund, and to supervise the disbursement of the Fund, in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and transparency, for the benefit of the people of Appiatse.”
He expressed confidence in the Committee to execute this mandate with fairness and honesty.
Mr Abu Jinapor assured the people of Appiatse of Government’s continuous support, and called on the general public to generously contribute to the Fund.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, the Chairperson, Dr. Joyce Aryee, thanked President Akufo-Addo for the confidence reposed in them to manage such important fund.
She said though the task in onerous, they trust in the providence of God to guide them in executing this mandate.
Dr Joyce Aryee called on all Ghanaians, particularly the media, to support them in carrying out their duty.
