Chairman of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Team, Benito Owusu Bio has said the Committee in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is urgently replacing destroyed tents for Appiatse victims.

According to him, warmers are also being provided for the community members due to the rainy season.

The Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister noted that Reconstruction and Implementation team together with the Municipal Coordinating Council “are on hand to receive specific concerns and these will be addressed speedily as we have always done”.

More than 50 residents of Appiatse were left stranded once again after a heavy rainstorm destroyed tents in the Appiatse Relief Camp on Friday.

The torrential rains accompanied by strong winds demolished parts of the makeshift settlement used by families whose houses were destroyed by the recent explosion.

According to some of the residents, the recent development is another threat to the health and safety of women and children at the Camp, adding that it will compound their trauma.

But the Reconstruction Implementation Team has assured the residents of working around the clock to provide permanent shelter for the victims.

“The Reconstruction Implementation Team anticipated that rainfall beginning in the March-April period will make remaining in tents untenable. That is why we have been working around the clock to provide temporary accommodation at Odumase since February,”  

“Over 40 buildings owned by FGR are being refurbished and roofed, so we can resettle the victims of the explosion by 1st May 2022. Funding has already been allocated for this work and it's proceeding earnestly, Benito Owusu Bio said in a statement.

The Committee further encouraged the people of Appiatse to take heart and be resilient as it works to rebuild the community.

Donations to Appiatse Support Fund

Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee, John Jinapor, observed that the support and love people showed to the community when the disaster took place are gradually dying out.

He urged corporate entities and organisations to donate and help the people because their plights and challenges are not over yet.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Appiatse Support Fund Committee, Dr Joyce Aryee, says the over ¢35 million received as donations to the Appiatse Support Fund is not sufficient to rebuild the community.

According to her, although more money is needed, the Committee is still grateful to all contributors for their enormous contributions so far.

Addressing journalists in Accra last week, Dr. Aryee said “this amount notwithstanding, we are far from reaching what we would call sufficient funds. This is because the extent of damage to the Appiatse township cannot be overemphasised and this amount raised so far will not be adequate.”

She also stated that the money collected does not include the $5 million fine placed on Maxam Company by government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

 “We are still insisting on our hashtag: “Obiara entuabi” which means ‘everyone must pay’, to enable us to make this project a reality.

“Monetary contributions may be deposited in the name of APPIATSE SUPPORT FUND at GCB Bank account number 1011130036123 or Stanbic Bank account number 9040009974967.  “We also encourage you to kindly send your donations through MTN, Vodafone, AirtelTigo to G-Cash short code *422*530# or Stanbic short code *718*25*096#.”