Gold Fields Limited has expressed its condolences to families of the victims of the explosion at Apiate, near Bogoso, the community and all those who have been affected by the tragedy.
Contained in a statement signed by the Acting Executive Vice President and Head of West Africa of Gold Fields Limited, Joshua Mortoti, it revealed that Gold Fields Ghana has mobilised a number of resources, including tents, food and equipment, to support the relief activities on the ground. It intimated that the mining company’s medical teams have offered to assist.
“We are saddened by the disaster at Apiate and have noted the devastating effect the explosion has had in the community. We offer our support to authorities and the people of the community. We are ready to assist any way we can”.
Joshua Mortoti
According to Mr Mortoti, Gold Fields will also work with its peers in the Ghana Chamber of Mines to provide collective support to the community of Apiate. The statement however debunked some media reports which suggested that the truck carrying the explosives had started its journey at Gold Field’s Tarkwa mine. This, it emphasized, is “incorrect”, insisting the van was from an explosives depot at Tarkwa.
“The news agency has subsequently corrected the original story”.
Joshua Mortoti
Following the ghastly explosion which has so far killed 13 persons according to the Police, quite a number of high profile personalities in the country have commiserated with the victims of the accident. The latest to join in is the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, who has expressed his profound condolences to the victims of the Apiate explosion and their families.
Speaker of parliament extends condolence to victims
In a statement released today, Friday, January 21, 2022, the Speaker stated that he received with shock and sadness, the news of an “accident that resulted in the tragic loss of lives, varying degrees of injury and loss of property on the Bawdie-Bogoso road in the town of Apeatse in the Western Region”.
Mr Bagbin extended his condolences and prayers to the victims and their families, whose “pain and grief at this moment” will be unimaginable.
“The Psalmist tells us that ‘the Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.’ That is the assurance I have for all those in grieve as a result of the accident”.
Alban Bagbin
The Speaker urged the general public to help restore the lost livelihoods to the people of the community by supporting the victims with relief items such as food, water, building materials, and other essentials.
“I entreat all Ghanaians to remember them in prayers and encourage those in adjourning communities to offer whatever help they can to the victims and the displaced. Let us in the proverbial Ghanaian spirit of love and brotherliness help them rebuild their lives”.
Alban Bagbin
Meanwhile, Security analyst, Col. Festus Aboagye (Rtd), has revealed that Maxam Ghana Limited, owners of the truck that exploded at Apiate did not ensure adequate security escort in transporting the explosives.
According to him, the company should have ensured that safety guidelines were met before transporting the inflammable material. Col. Festus Aboagye noted that adequate Police escort and a fire tender should have accompanied the truck carrying the explosives.
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