Residents of Achimota not happy about the slow pace of rescue mission

Some residents of Achimota and its environs, who thronged to the collapsed Achimota branch of the Melcom Shopping Mall on Wednesday, complained about the slow pace of the rescue mission.

The resident claimed that the rescue mission lacked adequate equipment needed to undertake such complicated mission.

They said If they had been allowed to be part of the rescue mission, more people suspected trapped under the rubble could be rescued.

The rescue mission was being undertaken by the security agencies comprising the Armed Forces, the Police, the Fire Service and others.

The six storey ultra modern building, which housed the Achimota branch of Melcom collapsed suddenly at 0940 Wednesday morning trapping about 56 people who were mainly staff of the company according to Mr. Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Melcom Group of Companies.

Chief Fire Officer Mr. Albert Brown Gaisie, Director of Operation, Ghana National Fire Service, however blamed the public for hampering the work of the security agencies by overcrowding the place and not allowing them access.

He noted that those who had been trapped were experiencing nothing but heat and therefore overcrowding of the place would worsen the matter.

He assured the public that the security agencies would work diligently and rescue all those who had been trapped under the debris.

Mr. Fred Lamptey, Chief Operating Officer, Vanguard Assurance, who are the insurers of Melcom Group of Companies, expressed the readiness of his outfit to deliberate with them on the needed compensation to pay.

Mr Kwesi Addae, Presidential Candidate, United Front Party (UFP), expressed concern about the disaster and its gravity and called for proper measures to be put in place when building.

The Vice President Amissah- Arthur, Mr Gbevlo Lartey, National Security Coordinator, Ms Hannah Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpiuje, AMA Mayor, Mr Joseph Henry Smith, Minister of Defence, Madam Elizabeth Sackey, MP for Okaikoi South; were among the many who visited the scene.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, New Patriotic party (NPP) Vice Presidential Candidate and Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, NPP Chairman were also at the scene to extended their condolences to families of those had lost their lives and the injured.