One of the pits at the Shaanxi Mining site
The death toll from the latest mining accident at Gbane mining community in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region has risen to 17, with the injured at the Upper East Regional Hospital still worried about their condition.
Family members of those on admission at the hospital are pleading with management of the facility to make strenuous effort to save their relations.
According to them, the condition of the miners at the health facility has deteriorated since Wednesday, January 23.
Management of the Upper East Regional Hospital, who seemed overwhelmed by the number of cases, has called for oxygen from other facilities in the region and beyond to save lives.
The Medical Director, Dr. Patrick Atubrah, made the appeal on Thursday, January 24, when Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo and some top security officials in the region visited the victims at the hospital after a closed door REGSEC Meeting.
The hospital management implored other victims who refuse to report to the health facility to rescind their decision.
“We are told some of the miners who were not severely affected, ran into nearby bushes when they saw the Police coming to the community. Maybe they thought the Police were there to arrest them. If you have relatives who are still living in the community without proper medical care, please bring them for proper medical care.” Dr. Atubrah pleaded.
The Deputy East Regional Minister, Frank Fuseini Adongo also added his voice to calls to help the hospital attend to all the injured.
He was not happy with the number of deaths and the condition of those on admission, saying the people on admission and their families are living in fear, especially when their colleagues keep on dying due to lack of oxygen and other drugs.
Chairman of the Upper East Regional Small Scale Miners Association, Robert Tampoagre, is still blaming Shaanxi Mining Company for the deaths of the people.
He called on the Mineral Commission to stop the activities of Shaanxi and all others and invite them to dialogue to address the problems.
Even though Mr. Tampoagre did not elaborate on the issue, he seemed to suggest that there is a contention over the concessions.
Meanwhile all mining pits in the area have been deserted following the incident.
Earlier, the Deputy Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Paul Ayittey, in an interview with the media, attributed the incident to an underground blast which resulted in the inhalation of a poisonous gas by the victims.
FROM: Ebo Bruce-Quansah, Gbane