The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, says the reconstruction of the Appiatse group within the Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Assembly is on schedule, and the primary section, which consists of the development of the core group, could be accomplished earlier than the top of the yr.
This was disclosed on Wednesday, 4th January, 2023, after the Minister led a delegation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee to examine the progress of labor in the neighborhood.
The Appiatse group was razed down on Thursday, twentieth January, 2022, when a truck carrying explosives to a mining website exploded in the neighborhood. About 13 (13) individuals are reported to have died from the incident, with a number of others sustaining completely different levels of accidents.
A Government delegation, led by the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mamamudu Bawumia, visited the group shortly after the incident, and dedicated to settle the medical payments of all of the injured.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, following investigations into the matter, imposed a wonderful of Six Million US Dollars (US$6,000,000.00) on Maxxam Ghana Limited, the corporate chargeable for the transportation of the explosives.
A Health and Safety Committee, chaired by the Vice Chancellor of George Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Prof. Richard Amankwah, was additionally established to evaluation the well being and security requirements within the mining trade, which led to some reforms within the trade.
Government, additionally, promised to reconstruct the Appiatse group into a contemporary, inexperienced and sustainable group as a mannequin for rural growth.
An Appiatse Support Fund was thus established to, amongst others, help the reconstruction of the group, whereas short-term lodging was offered for the victims of the incident.
As the primary anniversary of the incident approaches, the Minister visited the group to examine the progress of labor and guarantee members of the group of Government’s steady help.
Briefing the Minister and the Delegation, the Project Architect, Mr. Walter Semordzi, stated the primary section of the venture consists of the development of 100 of twenty-four (124) housing models made up of two to seven bed room homes, a faculty block with sanitary amenities, and the development of roads throughout the group.
He stated to date, 100 and 6 (106) out of the 100 twenty-four (124) housing models are underneath building and are at completely different levels of completion. A kindergarten and six-unit classroom block are additionally underneath building, whereas the Department of Urban Roads have commenced work on the development of the roads in the neighborhood.
He stated the primary section of the venture is about thirty % (30%) full, and its on schedule to be accomplished inside time.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Mr. Jinapor expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work. He stated the preoccupation of any accountable Government, following such tragic incident, was to supply emergency reduction to help victims, examine the matter and apply the mandatory sanctions, and reconstruct the group to provide the victims the dignity of life they deserve.
He stated Government has since been dedicated to this course of, and the victims have been supplied with short-term lodging whereas the reconstruction is ongoing.
Mr. Jinapor stated Government’s dedication is to finish the primary section of the venture, and transfer the victims again to the group earlier than the top of yr.
He stated social facilities required for an honest residing, akin to electrical energy and moveable water, can be offered for the group as nicely.
He assured of Government’s dedication to develop the group in accordance with the grasp plan, which embrace different amenities akin to market and parks.
He referred to as on most of the people to proceed to donate to the Appiatse Support Fund to lift sufficient cash to expedite the reconstruction of the venture.
The Divisional Chief of Bepo, Nana Atta Kojo Brembi, thanked the Minister and Government for the help given them because the unlucky incident.
He stated the situation of a lot of the victims would have been depressing with out Government help.
He lauded the choice of Government to reconstruct the group and pledged their steady help to Government to finish the reconstruction.
He additionally pleaded with Government to proceed to help a number of the victims who can now not work because of the diploma of damage sustained.
Accompanying the Minister for the inspection have been the Board Chairman of the Minerals Commission and former Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency, Hon. Barbara Oteng Gyasi, and the Deputy Minister for Lands Natural Resources and Chairperson of the Reconstruction Implementation Committee, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio.