Hon Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has disclosed that the reconstruction of the Appiatse community in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal Assembly is on schedule, and the first phase, which consists of the construction of the core community, would be completed before the end of the new year.
The minister made this revelation after he led a delegation from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee to inspect the progress of work in the community.
The Appiatse community was destroyed on Thursday, 20th January, 2022, when a truck carrying explosives to a mining site exploded in the middle of the community. Close to thirteen people were reported dead from the incident, with several others sustaining different levels of injuries.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, following investigations into the matter, imposed a fine of Six Million US Dollars (US$6,000,000.00) on Maxxam Ghana Limited, the company responsible for the transportation of the explosives.
A Health and Safety Committee, chaired by Prof. Richard Amankwah, the Vice Chancellor of George Paa Grant University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), was also created to review the health and safety standards in the mining sector, which led to some reforms in the industry.
The Government after the incident promised to reconstruct the community into a modern, green and sustainable community as a model for rural development. An Appiatse Support Fund was further established to support the reconstruction of the community, while temporary accommodation was provided for the victims of the incident.
As the first anniversary of the incident approaches, Hon Jinapor visited the community to inspect the progress of work and assure members of the community of government’s continuous support.
Speaking to the media after the inspection, Mr. Jinapor expressed his satisfaction with the progress of the work done so far. He noted that the duty of any responsible government, following such dreadful incident, was to provide emergency relief to support victims, investigate the matter and apply the necessary sanctions, and reconstruct the community to give the victims the dignity of life they deserve.
Project Briefing
Briefing the Hon Minister and the delegation, the Project Architect, Walter Semordzi, revealed that the first phase of the project consists of the construction of one hundred and twenty-four (124) housing units made up of two to seven bedroom houses, a school block with sanitary facilities, and the construction of roads within the community.
Mr Walter noted that, so far, one hundred and six out of the one hundred and twenty-four housing units are under construction and are at different stages of completion. A kindergarten and six-unit classroom block are also under construction, while the Department of Urban Roads has commenced work on the construction of the roads in the community. He said “the first phase of the project is about thirty percent (30%) complete, and its on schedule to be completed within time.”
According to the Minister, government has since been committed to this process, and the victims have been provided with temporary accommodation while the reconstruction is ongoing. Mr. Jinapor stated that government’s focus is to complete the first phase of the project, and move the victims back to the community before the end of year.
Hon Jinapor called on the general public to continue to donate to the Appiatse Support Fund to raise enough money to expedite the reconstruction project.
Dignitaries who accompanied the Minister for the inspection were the Board Chairman of the Minerals Commission and former Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni Valley Constituency, Barbara Oteng Gyasi, and the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Chairperson of the Reconstruction Implementation Committee, Benito Owusu-Bio.
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