The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the government received the tragic news of an explosion at Appiatse, along the Bogoso- Bawdie road in the Western Region, that led to the destruction of some parts of the town, and resulted in injuries and the death of some residents.
Preliminary reports indicate that there was an accident involving a truck conveying explosive material for a mining company, a motorcycle, and a third vehicle close to an electricity transformer, leading to the explosion.
Upon the instructions of the President of the Republic, a National Emergency Response Mechanism was activated immediately. Personnel from the Police Service, Fire Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana Health Service, National Ambulance Service, the Municipal Authority, and residents have all been involved in providing support.
Additional personnel and resources have been dispatched to the community to support the response effort.
An alternative route has been created to facilitate the movement of stranded vehicles plying that route.
All hospitals within the vicinity are being used to treat injured persons, and an evacuation plan has been activated to move those in critical condition to medical facilities in Accra so they can get the needed assistance.
To forestall a secondary explosion, a joint team of police and military explosion experts has been deployed to examine the situation and put in place the requisite measures.
As at 17:00 hours, a total of seventeen (17) people have, sadly, been confirmed dead, and fifty-nine (59) injured persons had been rescued, bringing to seventy-six (76) the number of persons known, so far, to have been affected by the tragedy.
Out of the fifty-nine (59) injured persons, forty-two (42) are receiving treatment and some in critical condition.
Early reports indicate that several houses and structures in sections of the town have been destroyed and plans have been put in place to ensure that stranded community members are catered for in the coming days.
We would want to urge the public to remain calm and obtain regular updates from the national emergency response team.
At 11:00am tomorrow [Friday] the emergency response team will provide updates from the scene of the incident.
Government commends the Police Service, Fire Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana Health Service, National Ambulance Service, the Municipal Authority, health professionals in the medical facilities within the vicinity, and local residents for their assistance so far.
Government further expresses deep condolences to the families of the deceased and sends best wishes to the injured for their speedy recovery.
As relief and containment efforts continue, and the situation is brought under considerable control, President Akufo-Addo will visit Appiatse to assess the effectiveness of the response effort.
