The Appiatse town in the Western Region, which was razed down after an ammonium nitrate explosion on January 20, 2022 has been rebuilt.
On Thursday, May 2, 2024 the Akufo-Addo government commissioned 124 new housing units for the victims of Appiatse, at a colourful event with chiefs and people in attendance.
The reconstruction was done with funds and support from the general public and private sectors, with the government investing in the road infrastructure.
PHASE ONE
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, commissioned the 124 housing units, that made up Phase One of the Appiatse reconstruction project.
Phase One is made up of 124 housing units, consisting of one-to-seven-bedroom houses, a school block with sanitary facilities and the construction of inner roads within the community.
It also includes the provision of markets, electricity, water, extensive street lighting and a green landscape.
PHASE TWO
Phase two of the project, which the government says was the repair and rehabilitation of buildings partially impacted by the incident, has also been completed.
The government said that payments have been made to some 50 affected individuals to carry out the repair and rehabilitation of their buildings, after the affected buildings had been assessed and valued by professionals.
After the commissioning of the 124 housing units yesterday, the Vice President cut sod for the commencement of work on Phase 3.
The third phase will see to the construction of 67 additional buildings and other facilities on the peripheries of the new community.
GRATITUDE
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, expressed gratitude in his commissioning address to all who contributed in diverse ways to ensure the revival of the community that was razed down by fire.
According to him, the new structures, “once mere blueprints, now stand as symbols of hope, unearthing a brighter future from the ashes of our past.
“We are grateful to all who offered support in our time of need, whether through words of comfort, a listening ear, the provision of a need or a temporary place of abode, or a contribution thereto; but very importantly, to all—both corporate and individual Ghanaians – who, out of the generosity of their hearts contributed in cash and kind to support the rebuilding of the new Appiatse we commission today. It is my prayer that the Almighty God will abundantly replenish whatever you sacrificed,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia paid a glowing tribute to President Akufo-Addo, saying that his boss’ commitment and tenacity led to the construction of this new community.
He reiterated that the President was the first person to donate to the Appiatse Support Fund and directed that $5,000,000 of the $6,000,000 fine imposed on the mining company be paid into the fund.
The Vice President also thanked the Appiatse Support Fund, the Appiatse Implementation Committee, the experts, consultants and contractors for their dedication to the course.
He pledged on behalf of the government to ensure that no family remains displaced, no child sleeps without shelter, and no elder faces uncertainty.
NEW MEASURES
The Vice President said he learned about the new measures that had been put in place by the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources, not only for the transportation of explosives, but to ensure health and safety in the entire mining industry.
He said that the enhanced safety protocols must be the nation’s unwavering priority, adding that Ghanaians owed it to the victims of the incident, their families, and the entire nation to prevent such tragedies in the future.
“We must, therefore, continue to invest in robust infrastructure, stringent regulations, and comprehensive training for those handling explosives or any other hazardous materials in all sectors of our socio-economic lives. Let us resolve to make the rebirth of Appiatse a testament to our determination to protect lives and safeguard our communities,” he remarked.
GOOD CARE
A day before the commissioning, a candlelight vigil was held at the new Appiatse community to commemorate the souls that were lost due to the explosion.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in his address, remarked that the reconstructed Appiatse Community, “meticulously crafted, embody our commitment to healing and bringing solace to families who have endured displacement and pain. This is, truly, a gesture of a caring government.”
However, he urged the beneficiaries of the facility to take very good care of them and ensure that it becomes a lasting legacy to bring relief to the affected, joy to the community, and ease the pains of January 20, 2022.
FUTURE
He pledged that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources will rigorously enforce the enhanced safety protocols adopted, educate communities, and hold accountable those entrusted with responsibility for explosives, as well as other hazardous materials, to prevent the recurrence of this unfortunate incident.
BACKGROUND
The Minister for Lands said that six days after the incident, on January 26, 2022 on the instructions of the President, he led a government delegation to carry out a preliminary assessment of the destruction and determine the right strategy to rebuild this community.
They launched the Appiatse Support Fund to raise money to, among others, support the victims of the incident and reconstruct the community.
A five-member committee, chaired by the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, was inaugurated to manage the fund.
Two days after the launch of the Fund, the President GH¢100,000.00, followed by the vice president and several other Ghanaians, including the First Lady, Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, corporate Ghana, and individuals, among others.
They also received several donations in kind, including building materials from various institutions, both public and private.
Minister Jinapor told the gathering that, to effectively execute the commitment to rebuild the community, an Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee (ARIC) was constituted to oversee the design and construction of the community into a modern, green, and sustainable township.
