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Seven people were confirmed dead in the blast, whilst 132 people sustained varying degrees of injury.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SawPO0u0MHFJr5wZAykPfZRaYnTIOA9t”]The residents of Atomic Junction in Madina were thrown into a state of panic following the explosion at the gas station which spread to adjacent structures.

The huge fireball from the explosion could be seen for miles around with many people in the vicinity taking to their heels in a bid to escape the blaze.

A number of people who sustained injuries in the blaze and the ensuing panic, were taken to the surrounding hospitals to receive treatment.

According to the Administrative Medical Officer at the 37 Military Hospital, Major R.O Mintah, 54 persons were taken to the 37 Military Hospital and out of that number, 44 have since been discharged.

He however added that, the ones who have been discharged routinely return to the hospital for check-ups.

“We had 54 of them initially that we attended to. Up until today, we’ve discharged all of them except ten who are still in our care. Those who were in ICU are still there, but they’ll be coming out soon. There are eight burn cases in the normal ward, and we have some who have orthopedic cases who have been to the theatre for surgery,” he said.

“There are lots of improvements. Burns cases take a long time to treat for discharge, so the costs are being managed by the hospitals and donations from a few organisations. Those who have been discharged have not been totally weaned off the hospital because some still come for OPD follow-ups.”

‘Thinking about the fire gives me trauma’

Several people were also taken to the Legon hospital for treatment and earlier narrated their ordeal to Citi News’ Michael Ogbodu.

Many of them were in bandages, whilst others had slings around their broken arms with expressions of discomfort written all over their faces.

“My whole body is paining me, and I’m in a trauma from thinking that the fire would have burnt me to ashes. I was at Baritas Restaurant with a couple of my friends and we were eight in number. The first explosion happened, but without fire; it just came with some smoke,” she said.

“We were told to come out so we were running helter-skelter. I couldn’t run far before the (explosion) with the fire, so I thought I was almost gone, but God being so good, I was able to run to safety. I fell while I was running and bruised my knee. I came for dressing today [Monday], and I was crying in the process.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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These safety measures are aside President Nana Akufo-Addo ordering the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4KyBwZARzsLWG9C347hXLU0dt9hHEvrv”]Key are among these measures is the impending closure of high-risk fuel stations across the country within 30-days, and the halting of the construction of new petrol/diesel and LPG filling points nationwide.

These measures, announced in a statement from government, are in direct response to the explosion at an LPG filling station at Atomic Junction, that has so far claimed at least seven lives and injured over 100 persons.

In the wake of that disaster, President Akufo-Addo has directed the following:

• immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority;
• review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business;
• institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of Regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG;
• review the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), National Fire Service (NFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations;
• deployment of a task force, within 30 days, to assess the risk that our current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety. High-risk stations will be immediately closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards;
• the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime;
• the recruitment by NPA of 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices;
• expedition of action by the Fire Service and the Police Service of on-going investigations. Any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law;
• immediate cessation, until further notice, of all construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

“The safety of citizens is the paramount objective of Government, and the President will take all necessary steps to ensure that citizens are safe,” the statement concluded.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking to Citi News, the Chairman of the Haatso-Atomic GPRTU Taxi rank, Paul Koki, said cars belonging to some of the supposed missing drivers, were found to have been affected by the fire following the explosion.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jsAYOQknmegGaYo08TSP9ySPHKGHOUZY”]“Now, we can’t find some of our drivers. Our station, for instance, no car was burnt… There were some cars directly in front of the gas station, and those cars were burnt, but we can’t find the drivers of those cars. We don’t know where they are now. ”

According to him, since the unfortunate incident, they have not heard any word from the owners of the burnt vehicles, neither have they been sighted.

Background

On Saturday, October 7, a gas explosion occurred at Atomic junction which has so far killed seven persons and injured 132 others.

Despite the death toll of seven, some surgeons in the country have stated that deaths from accidents like these are often under-reported.

The area around the epicenter of the explosion is known to be a hotbed of activity with a commercial bus [trotro] station, taxi rank, other fuel stations and traders located in the immediate vicinity.

Police and fire service investigations are yet to be concluded to ascertain the actual cause of the explosion.

The area is currently being treated as a crime scene, with surrounding business being prevented from returning to normal operations.

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By: Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Some Atomic Junction drivers reportedly missing after explosion appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He stressed that ever since assuming office, Tampuli took proactive steps to address safety challenges in the sector head on.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lAsY6dLHRXgp3c18yGj3xV3AddHMbmUw”]Speaking to The Finder, he recalled that one of the first things the NPA Chief Executive did was to invite all stakeholders to a major workshop to deliberate on safety challenges and the way forward.

Hosi explained that, it is unfortunate that even before the actions of Tampuli could start yielding results, a major gas explosion rocked Atomic Junction killing 7 and injuring 132.

He therefore called for thorough investigations into the Atomic Junction gas explosion accident and persons found culpable sanctioned.

According to him, people have failed in the discharge of their duties and government should wake up and deal with the issue at hand.

“Who are we holding accountable for the loss of lives, who is going to lose his job for this, who is going to go to prison for this, who is really going to pay for the loss of lives and the loss of property and the embarrassment this has caused the state.”

“It has to do with us purely enforcing the rules. The rules are there, people breach them and when you breach them we hold people accountable, but we never hold anybody accountable and that is the failing of government” he asked.

Hosi stressed that if the mechanism for accountability is not enforced, no policy would solve the problems.

However, he said engaging in blame game and calling for some individuals to be sacked without thorough examinations to deal with the right culprits would be counter productive.

Therefore, he said calls for the formulation of a ‘new’ policy to regulate the activities of gas stations in the country are not the solution.

According to him, the enforcement of already existing laws and constant supervision would prevent gas station disasters.

He was quick to add that it is not to say that a new policy is not necessarily welcome.

He stated that the problem at hand has to do with the concept of accountability that is totally absent in the management of the sector.

The gas explosion at the Atomic Junction Saturday evening has ignited a conversation about where fuel and gas stations should be sited in the country.

Need for accountability

Many other stakeholders have also called for a new policy to be formulated. However, Hosi holds the view that the concept of accountability, which is absent in the management of the sector is the real problem.

He said governments over the years have played around the real issues and failed to put their foot down and ensure that the right things are done regardless of who is involved.

The CEO of CBOD added that “you have to deal with the fundamental thing that has to do with the breach of rules and protocol and holding people accountable for not doing their jobs and that is where we are.

Hosi noted that at the time the gas station was established, there was minimal commercial activity in the area.

He explained that as commercial activity increased, the station should have been relocated or commercial activities restricted.

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Source: Finder

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The operation, which started on Monday and saw the closure of Shell filling station in the area, is to be replicated in all communities in the Municipality.

Speaking to Citi News, the Municipal Engineer, William A. Kpoti, said the safety exercise is meant to keep standards in the Municipality following the gas explosion in Accra over the weekend.

He added that a committee has been formed which is spearheading the programme.

“Some of the fillings stations have had their fire service permits expired for up to two or three years. Others have their permits with the EPA, expired so we have to close them down. Some have not been paying their property rates as well as their business operating permits. Yesterday  [Monday], we closed down the GOIL filling station which is a state company; they had to rush down from Cape Coast to furnish us with all their documents before they were allowed them to continue their operations.”

“We close down Shell; the committee went through their documents before they were allowed to continue operations,” he added.

There have been several of such instances in the past where supervisory agencies close down fuel stations over some infractions, yet few days after, the affected stations are allowed to operate again.

Mr. Kpoti promised that, their move “is not a nine-day wonder,” saying “we are going to maintain it in order to have sanity in our municipality.”

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Mohammed Ashley, a cameraman with Net 2 TV,  is one of the seven fatalities recorded after the massive Saturday explosion.

He is reported to have fallen to his death from the flyover at Atomic junction due to the impact of the explosion as chaos ensued around him.

Reports indicate that, the deceased, who lived close to the area, rushed to the scene with his camera upon hearing the explosive sounds.

Indications are that he also suffered some burn injuries.

When relatives of the late cameraman and management of Kencity, owners of Net 2 TV called on the Flagstaff House, to formally inform the President of their loss, the Chief Executive Officer of Ken City, Stella Agyapong noted that “we went to the morgue to see him and he was severely burnt.”

President Nana Akufo-Addo, while commiserating with the bereaved family, promised to personally pay for the cost of the burial of Mohammed Ashley.

Mohammed Ashley was unmarried and was the second of seven children.

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

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The massive explosion at a gas station near Atomic Junction, which has so far claimed seven lives, sparked protests and rekindled the fears of residents regarding the siting of fuel stations in densely populated residential and commercial areas.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0TiffTk8b867QqIJil1SEcod0rXJPVbQ”]Already, some Ghanaians have hit the streets in protest, and more than 3,000 Ghanaians have signed an online petition to demand that government takes action against fuel stations sited close to homes across the country.

About eight different gas explosions have claimed nearly 30 lives since 2014.

But responding to a question on the matter from the media on Sunday at the scene of the explosion, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, was more concerned about stringent safety measures and regular checks, as well as sanctions.

“Maybe safety measures [need to be focused on], beginning from home because I believe that more people die in their kitchens than die from such accidents [explosions] because we don’t adhere to certain simple basic measures. You have to examine your gas stove, see whether it is working…”

“Make sure the cylinders are working when you are going to buy the gas and that the valves are not leaking and make these are safety measures that we will have to address from the home to where we buy the gas from,” the Minister added.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng, however said he was trying to avoid any “knee-jerk” declarations, saying his ministry is drawing up policies to address these explosions, and “when the policy is in place, we can come out with something that is concrete.”

The Fire Service’s Director of Public Relations, Billy Anaglatey, also downplayed the concerns some Ghanaians have over the siting of these gas and fuel stations.

He rather attributed the lapses that have led to the loss of lives to lax safety measures and indiscipline.

“…personally, it’s not about the location of the gas filling station. It is all about indiscipline on the part of the drivers and their mates, and the attendants at the gas filling station,” the Fire Service’s PRO opined.

“If you look at all these explosions that we had at gas filling stations, they were all out of indiscipline because they were as a result of offloading the gas. Before you offload the gas, there are various rules and regulations and safety measures that you are supposed to adhere to.”

For him, addressing the safety aspect of the distribution of gas is more of a priority than the location of these stations.

“…failure to adhere to some of these safety measures definitely will result in some of these unfortunate situations we are having on our hands. Whether the filling station is located in the bush or somewhere, I think if we are not disciplined, we will continue to have fires on them,” Mr. Anaglatey stated.

Meanwhile, the Government is expected to hold a crunch cabinet meeting over Saturday’s gas explosion that occurred at Atomic Junction in Accra.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), also already has plans in place to introduce a Cylinder Recirculation Module which seeks to ensure the safe distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the country.

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

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Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, speaking at the scene of the Saturday night explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra, said a policy is in the offing to deal with the safety concerns once and for all.

[contextly_sidebar id=”mlPl48lHPJaWRpk2BAhIJuI8YOqn3luv”]He stressed that “it is in the interest of our country that we actually implement some new policy directions.”

The massive explosion occurred at the MANSCO gas station at Atomic Junction near the University of Ghana, sparking widespread panic in surrounding areas. Six people have been confirmed dead with 40 people sustaining various degrees of injury.

Describing this explosion as “one too many”, Dr. Bawumia acknowledged the cries and fears of Ghanaians who feel threatened by the siting of fuel and gas stations in areas with high population density.

“…I think what Ghanaians want is solid policy to deal with this matter once and for all. We are going to move to deal with it. It’s not about committees and committees and nothing gets done. We owe it to the country, and government is going to take this very seriously. Discussions were being held last night about the way forward.”

“Some new policies are going to come in and those who are going to try to resist those policies, I don’t think they will be listened to because it is important for us to put the safety of our people above everything else,” the Vice President added.

“We are going to move quite quickly to do it. It’s not going to be one where you wait weeks for it to happen. It’s going to happen relatively quickly. We pretty much have an idea of what we are going to do in terms of policy.”

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA),  has already indicated plans to introduce a Cylinder Recirculation Module , which the LPG Marketers Association and the Association of Gas Tanker Drivers have kicked against in the past.

The policy seeks to ensure the safe distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas in the country.

Dr. Bawumia said the explosion marked a “very tragic” day for Ghana, and extended his wishes to those affected before beginning a tour of the hospital giving medical attention to the victims of the explosion.

“On behalf of the president, I would like to extend my condolences to all the bereaved families and also our sympathies to all those who have been injured and affected. In fact, all of Ghana has been affected. It is a major tragedy.”

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

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The construction of houses on the hill near the Peduase Lodge in Aburi has been identified as a major cause of the weakness of the Aburi mountain whose boulders have been falling onto the Accra-bound section of the road.

Source: Graphic Online

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