The driver of the vehicle carrying chemicals that exploded at Apiate near Bogoso in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality, in the Western Region, causing deaths and massive damage to the town, reportedly saved the lives of school children.
The school was in the vicinity of the accident and when the vehicle carrying the explosives collided with a motor, the driver reportedly rushed to the school and told the teachers to move the kids to a safer location moments before the explosion.
Driver, Rider Not Dead
The Ghana Police Service debunked claims that the driver died during the explosion that flattened Apiate on Thursday afternoon, saying he was “in good hands.”
The motorcycle rider who reportedly crossed the path of the vehicle carrying the explosives also survived, according to the police.
The Ghana Police Service Director-General, Public Affairs Directorate, ACP Kwesi Ofori, said “the driver, knowing what he was carrying was of help to the community here. He quickly rushed to the school, informed the teachers, about the danger that at the time was to come and the children were quickly whisked away from this area to safer ground.”
“He also announced to most community members to move out, including the motor rider. But unfortunately, looking at the radius of the explosion the 13 died and the 36 who are on admission also sustained injuries and 96 with all manner of cuts were treated and discharged,” the police said.
“Let me use this opportunity to also state that the truck driver is in good hands, the gentleman who was on the motorbike is also responding to treatment,” ACP Ofori added.
Victims Speak
Some of the affected persons have been recounting their harrowing experience during the massive explosion to DAILY GUIDE.
DAILY GUIDE visited the St Michael Catholic Parish Hall at Bogoso where scores of displaced persons from Apiate were being accommodated temporarily.
Per the accounts of some eyewitnesses, the driver made frantic efforts to warn curious residents that the vehicle was carrying explosives but some of them were adamant and tried to get closer to witness the unfolding accident.
In the process, there was a big bang and the whole area turned upside down.
The Assemblyman for Apiate Electoral Area, Thomas Yaw Ayam, said most of the victims that gathered around the incident scene had no idea there was going to be such a big explosion.
Some of the residents were even recording the vehicle with the explosive which had started burning and refused to heed to the warnings of the driver to move away from the area.
He said the driver kept on running and shouting to alert the residents when the vehicle was going to explode.
“The residents were more interested in taking pictures and videos than taking precautionary measures,” the Assemblyman said, adding “most of them did not take the driver serious so many of the deaths recorded were those who were close to the explosion.”
Asked where he was at the time of the explosion, the Assemblyman said he was at home but managed to escape unhurt although his building was flattened by the explosion.
Ata Mensah, a resident who sustained minor cuts in the face told DAILY GUIDE that it was his first time witnessing such explosion.
He said he was at home at about 11:35am when the incident occurred and told DAILY GUIDE that he initially heard that a vehicle was involved in an accident in the town and had caused a gridlock.
Big Bang
The victim said “then some few minutes I heard a big bang and immediately all the buildings around our area collapsed. I was outside and decided to run to a safer place but I fell down and sustained injuries on my face.”
Asked whether the fire spread to the whole town, he said it was rather the blast that caused the buildings to collapse.
He mentioned that the emergency response team was swift and they sent him to the Bogoso Hospital but was later discharged and brought to the Catholic Parish Hall.
A nursing mother, who gave her name as Matilda Aba Ninson, also narrated the ordeal she went through.
She said she was with her four-month-old baby at home when she heard the big blast and the roof of their building ripped off at once.
“We would have died if the building collapsed on us because when I came out I saw many collapsed buildings and structures,” she disclosed.
Bogoso Hospital
From the St Michael Catholic Parish Hall, DAILY GUIDE moved to the Bogoso Hospital where some of the victims were admitted.
At the time of the visit, all those sent there were treated and discharged while those whose injuries were serious were referred to the Tarkwa Government Hospital.
A victim, who gave his name as Kwame Appiah, 24, a galamsey operator, who was about to leave the health facility after receiving treatment, said he was at home when he heard that the accident vehicle had been gutted by fire on the highway.
He said a number of people, including himself, were moving to the fire scene, when it exploded suddenly.
“I was left unconscious after the blast and later woke up in the hospital. I thank God I am alive,” he said.
Kwaku Awuku Addo, one of the displaced persons, indicated that many of the victims could have been safe if they had listened to the driver.
“I believe those who went to the scene to take pictures and were injured have regretted their decision not to have listened to the driver of the vehicle. This should serve as a lesson to those who are in the habit of recording videos at accident scenes whilst disregarding all safety protocols.”
Apiate Population
In last year’s Population and Housing Census provisional results released, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicated that 377 structures were listed including completed or uncompleted at least to the lintel level.
Data showed that 857 persons were enumerated (i.e. spent the Census Night there) – 437 males and 420 females.
Other relevant statistical information on Apiate showed that 42% of the persons enumerated were children under 15 years, 40% of the employed were engaged in agricultural activities and 44% in services whilst 78% of the structures listed were fully completed and 6% of the structures were wooden structures and kiosks.
The GSS also released that 65% of the structures listed that were completed or at different stages of roofing, were for residential use.
Death Toll
According to ACP Ofori, official hospital records received by the police indicated that 13 people and not 17 died, as earlier claimed, explaining that “it was misreported that they were dead but when they were taken to the hospital, the medical officers certified that they were not clinically dead and as such, they were admitted and treatment is ongoing. So the death toll is 13 and we should take note of that.”
The police said its preliminary investigation established that a mining explosive vehicle belonging to Maxam Company Limited was moving from Tarkwa to Chirano Mines and after crossing Bogoso, collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the explosion at Apiate.
“Reference to our earlier emergency public notice, the Police have taken charge of the situation providing security to enable the emergency workers including the Ghana National Fire Service, NADMO, and the Ambulance Service to manage the situation.
“The public has been advised to move out of the area to nearby towns for their safety while recovery efforts are underway. An appeal is also being made to nearby towns to open up their classrooms, churches, etc to accommodate surviving victims.
“Meanwhile, a preliminary investigation has established that a mining explosive vehicle moving from Tarkwa to Chirano Mines collided with a motorcycle resulting in the explosion. Most of the victims have been rescued and are on admission at various hospitals and clinics within the Bogoso Municipality.”
Houses Destroyed
A Deputy Coordinator of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Sedzi Seji Amedonu, told DAILY GUIDE that over 200 houses have been affected in Thursday’s explosion.
He said the blast was so huge that some of the houses were razed down completely while others developed cracks.
“Some of the houses were burnt while others were covered by debris. Most of the cars that were around during the explosion area were damaged.”
Emergency Visit
Last Friday, a high-level government delegation led by Vice President Dr. Bawumia and many security heads went to Apiate to assess the situation.
The Vice President said President Akufo-Addo has initiated a process to build some facilities for the victims and bring the town back to life.
“I want to assure Nananom that His Excellency the President, has given us directives and I have already spoken to the State Housing Corporation and in consultation with the mining companies around here, we will put up facilities to assist those who are displaced,” the Vice President had stated.
He, on behalf of the President and the government, donated assorted items including mattresses, bags of rice and other food items, soaps, mosquito nets and coils to the victims and a cash of GH¢200,000.
He described the situation as “very sad and unfortunate” and on behalf of the President, reiterated the government’s deep condolences to the families of the deceased and sent a speedy recovery message to injured persons.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Bogoso