Health service administrators in the country have made a unanimous call to the government to thoroughly look into the Apiate explosion that claimed the lives of at least 14 people and injured many more.
In a press statement issued in Accra on Monday, January 31, 2022, the Association of Health Service Administrators (AHSAG) said the disastrous detonation of the explosives in the small Western Region town was preventable.
“AHSAG views the Apiate Disaster and other similar unfortunate incidents as preventable and calls on relevant stakeholders including NADMO, Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Interior, etc. to collaborate effectively and work at preventing them in future.
“AHSAG particularly calls on Government to thoroughly investigate the incident and come out with measures to prevent such unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future. Pending a full-scale investigation into the incident, AHSAG calls for strict application of the provisions of LI 2177 in relation to the regulation of transportation of explosives for mining purposes in the country,” AHSAG said in the statement.
AHSAG is the umbrella body for professionally trained Health Service Administrators who have oversight responsibility for the day-to-day administration of healthcare delivery in the country.
AHSAG members make sure healthcare standards are met also hospitals and health centres run efficiently.
Apiate disaster
The huge explosion at Apiate, a town close to Bogoso, according to police, was caused by the detonation of 10,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate -- a volatile compound -- that was in transit to a mining site.
According to police, the truck transporting the explosives caught fire after crashing into a tricycle. The fire then detonated the explosives.
Homes were razed down and roofs were blown away by the massive explosion.
The government has since begun a project to rebuild the community and resettled traumatised residents.
READ ALSO: Apiate explosion: Tricycle rider denies police claim he collided with explosives vehicle
Read the full statement from AHSAG below.
AHSAG CONDOLES WITH VICTIMS OF THE APIATE DISASTER
The entire membership of the Association of Health Service Administrators, Ghana (AHSAG) is deeply saddened by the loss of lives, property and livelihoods occasioned by the explosion that occurred at Apiate involving a truck carrying mining explosives.
AHSAG offers its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. For the injured who are still receiving medical care in the Hospitals, we wish them a speedy recovery.
Our profound gratitude to Health Professionals, Staff of NADMO, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service and other Humanitarian Agencies, especially in and around Tarkwa, for their coordinated response to the disaster so far.
AHSAG views the Apiate Disaster and other similar unfortunate incidents as preventable and calls on relevant stakeholders including NADMO, Ghana Police Service, the Minerals Commission, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Interior, etc. to collaborate effectively and work at preventing them in future.
AHSAG particularly calls on Government to thoroughly investigate the incident and come out with measures to prevent such unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future. Pending a full scale investigation into the incident, AHSAG calls for strict application of the provisions of LI 2177 in relation to the regulation of transportation of explosives for mining purposes in the country.
AHSAG thanks individuals and corporate bodies for their support to the victims of the incident and appeals for more support for them.
We understand that Government is taking steps to resettle the internally displaced persons in this disaster. We commend Government for its efforts so far and pray that action is expedited in this regard by Government to ameliorate the suffering of the victims.
DATED AT AHSAG NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, DODOWA, GREATER ACCRA
REGION THIS 31ST DAY OF JANUARY 2022