The committee for the Asokwa Gas Disaster Relief Fund has debunked the notion that the government has donated GH¢200,000 as compensation for victims of the explosion that occurred on August 21, 2007. "Since the report was submitted to the president, nothing has been paid to the fund by the government," the Chairman of the Committee, Nana Fe-Baamoah II, Asokwahene, said at a press briefing here. The briefing was to react to media reports that the government had given out money to the fund to pay as compensation to the victims and the committee members had embezzled it. Responding to the issue in an interview later, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Osei Assibey-Antwi, confirmed that government had not given out any money for disbursement as compensation for those victims. He said since the government had no hand in the setting up of the committee, it was not supposed to compensate the victims. At the briefing the Asokwahene said that setting up of the fund was initiated by himself and the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, on humanitarian grounds to raise some money to help the victims. But, he said, "now that a section of the media has hijacked the issue amidst criticisms, we have put an end to soliciting the money". Nana Fe-Baamoah however, announced that the committee had raised GH¢9,000 to be disbursed to victims. He said beneficiaries would be those who were issued with police medical report to attend hospital. They would need to submit their medical reports and other identification to avoid impersonation. The chief said the Asokwa Police released 224 names on whom the committee will focus but added that there were other victims totalling 362 who were treated in various hospitals and if any of them could produce police medical report they would be considered for compensation. The Medical Superintendent at the Agogo hospital, Dr Frank Abebrese, who is a member of the committee, said the measures were to avoid an influx of non-victims to claim compensation. He cited a situation where two people who were injured several months before the explosion, came from the Ahafo area to be registered. Meanwhile some of the victims have reportedly collected their compensation from the committee which started disbursement last Wednesday, May 28. According to the secretary to the committee, Solomon Donkor, about 80 victims have been paid so far. Source: The Ghanaian Times