Editorial by Ghanaian Times: Tons of commendations for Appiatse’s rebirth

It will be recalled that on January 20, 2022, an explosion occurred at Appiatse, a farming community near Bogoso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality in the Western Region.

The disaster occurred about 300km (180 miles) west of Accra when a motorcycle went under a truck carrying rock-shattering explosives en route to a gold mine at Bogoso.

At least 17 people were confirmed dead, including children and over 60 were injured.

Over 3,300 people were affected in one way or another, and reports from the National Disaster Management Organization indicated that 500 buildings had been destroyed and approximately 1,500 people had been made homeless.

The explosion, which also blew off roads in the area, was a national disaster.

At the end of it all, the whole community of Appiatse was declared to have been wiped off.

As the situation was, it was apparent that the people needed to be consoled and helped, and while some individuals and organisations showered them with relief items, the government promised to rebuild the community.

To prove its resolve to fulfill its promise, the government inaugurated a seven-member multi-sec­toral reconstruction committee for Appiatse, the Appiatse Recon­struction Committee, chaired by Mr. Benito Owusu-Bio, a Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry.

It was tasked with building a green and environmentally sustainable community—a good example of a model town that could be replicated elsewhere in the country.

Since the rebuilding would obviously demand money, the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, headed by Dr. Joyce Aryee, a former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, was also inaugurated to provide details on how Ghanaians and foreigners could contribute to the Fund for the benefit of the people of Appiatse.

Yesterday, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, inaugurated 120 housing units for the explosion victims, which he described as the first of three phases of the government’s relief efforts.

The Ghanaian Times commends the government for speedily fulfilling, at least, a crucial part of its promise.

The paper equally applauds the Appiatse Reconstruction and Apiatse Support Fund committees.

The members of these committees and their collaborators must have their work etched in the history of the country’s development.

The paper is especially elated that even before the ceremony yesterday, the Appiatse Support Fund Committee had caused the list of its donors to be published in the media space.

The list comprises 79 donors, including politicians, corporate entities, religious organisations, and individuals.

These donors also deserve tons of commendation.

The Ghanaian Times recalls that when it learned that Dr. Aryee was chairing the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, it expressed the hope she would once again uphold honesty and transparency and Appiatse would truly be reborn.

As the whole nation jubilates at the rebirth of Appiatse, we support the remarks by Dr. Bawumia that the ceremony to inaugurate the reconstructed Appiatse was, among other things, to celebrate resilience, compassion, and the indomitable spirit of the people of Appiatse.

We would like to add that even though the disaster they suffered was unpleasant, it has, in the end, brought them something to jubi­late about, and they should let this assuage their pains and allow time to heal them.

The people of Appiatse should also note that their once-upon-a-time obscured community is now a global attraction, and so they should keep it green and clean to remain a good example of the model town that it was planned to be.