He said on Eyewitness News that, “clearly the minister was evasive on that particular issue.”

The Chief of Kyeremankoma, where the site is located, alleged that the group evicted all tour guides after the NPP won the 2016 elections, in the weeks leading up to the March 2017 disaster which claimed 18 lives.

[contextly_sidebar id=”K4oxh1i8sVjaxFIm0sVfpbWh9MPPXQPB”]But the Minister, Catherine Afeku, stated on the floor of Parliament that the Municipal Assembly was firmly in control of the tourist site.

But Mr. Ablakwa said it was clear that “she could not tell Parliament who was manning the place. She only says vaguely that it was under the care of the municipality… She doesn’t tell us who these personnel were, who contracted them and why they lacked the requisite training and expertise to be there.”

“She could not tell us the specific names, the management company, who contracted them and who the persons there were. These are all questions that we are still asking.”

In Mr. Ablakwa’s view, the nature of the situation demanded more transparency and boldness “to expose wrongdoing if wrongdoing has happened.”

More safety audits needed

Mrs. Afeku’s conclusions on the floor were in relation to the official Safety Audit team’s report.

She has assured that the full report will be made available to Parliament, but gleaning some bits of information from what the Minister delivered, Mr. Ablakwa highlighted the fact that only six other tourists sites were being audited by a safety team.

Mr. Ablakwa remarked that the safety audits needed to be expanded to other tourist sites.

“Six struck me. There are hundreds of tourists’ sites and it is surprising that the ministry is carrying out safety audits in only six…  I think that the ministry can do more to guarantee the safety of tourists. I think that they can expand the safety audits beyond the six that they have selected.”

The sites under audit are; Fuller Falls near Kintampo, Kakum National Park in the Central Region, Wli Falls in the Volta Region, Nzulezu in the Western Region, Bunsu Aboretem in the Eastern Region and Boti Waterfalls in the Eastern Region.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The deceased are believed to be Geography students of Wenchi Methodist Senior High School, who were there on an excursion. Others are students from the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

Reports indicate that the accident occurred at about 4.30pm on Sunday [March 19, 2017], when a huge tree run off the top of the water fall, descending on the dozens of revelers who were swimming beneath the fall.

Officials of the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service are currently at the scene trying to rescue persons suspected to be trapped under the tree.

An eyewitness, Awudu Isahaku who spoke to Citi News said, “There was a heavy wind in the Kintampo area earlier today… So the huge tree fell at the top and descended onto the people who were swimming in the river beneath the fall. It has killed about 16 people. We are down here with chainsaw machines cutting the trees in attempt to save the many others trapped under the water. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and even some traditional leaders are here.”

The Kintampo Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent, Desmond Owusu Boampong told Citi News 17 bodies have been retrieved so far.

Many of the revelers who were at the scene when the unfortunate incident occurred are believed to be students on excursion to the Waterfall.

Reports say about 18 people who are in very critical condition have been rushed to the Kintampo Municipal Hospital for treatment.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 16 feared dead; others missing in Kintampo waterfall accident appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.