Speaking to Citi News, the Member of Parliament for the Banda constituency who doubles as the Deputy Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim said they expect the leadership of the house to put pressure on the appropriate authorities to consider the report.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hJlFHHqffEbrzwCAg9Of6KMuqhCF7GxX”]About 19 students died last Sunday while several others sustained various degrees of injuries when a tree fell on them when they were swimming in the pond underneath the Kintampo waterfalls amidst a rainstorm.

“Our committee is meeting, we are writing a statement to be presented on the floor. Besides that we are also presenting a report to the Minority leader because he will pick it up and make sure that the powers that be all have a look at it. So these are the areas we are looking at it from. We went to about four to five villages visiting the families of all the deceased,” Ahmed Ibrahim added.

Call invisible forces to order

Meanwhile, following reports that management of the Kintampo waterfalls were sacked by persons believed to be supporters of the governing New Patriotic Party, the Progressive People’s party had asked the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call his people to order.

A statement signed by the Communications Direct of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) Paa Kow Ackon, further said the incident could have been properly managed if the nation’s leadership had a firm grip on their supporters.

“…It has turned out that the invincible forces had seized the falls and sacked the professionals who were managing the facility following the regime change in the December 2016 elections. If the sacked professionals were in charge of the facility, they would have been charged for negligence of duty.  We want the NPP led government to show leadership by bringing the managers of the facility to book for their negligence,” the statement added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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At least 19 persons, including students, perished and over 20 sustained various degrees of injuries when a storm dragged fallen trees from the top of the waterfall crushing and trapping the people who were swimming below at the time.

The injured have since been sent to the Kintampo Municipal Hospital for treatment.

In a statement signed by the first lady, she described the incident as a tragedy that has stunned the whole country and prayed for a speedy recovery for all the injured persons.

“I am deeply sorry for your loss. There are no words I can offer that will make this any easier. I hope you find some comfort in knowing that the whole of Ghana shares your pain.

I pray that God will comfort and strengthen you during this difficult time. These were all beautiful young souls and we will always remember them as such, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo added.

In a Facebook post, the President, Nana Akufo-Addo who is currently away in Switzerland for the Africa CEO Forum, had also expressed his condolence, describing the situation as an unfortunate and tragic incident.

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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In a statement extending commiserations to the bereaved and injured persons, the Minority urged government to “diligently carry full-scale investigations into the Kintampo Waterfalls incident and make the findings public.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”ACAWYZNsZ1tpnZeQmK7rr7y6wRYnpjkw”]A safety audit of all tourists destinations so as to preserve Ghana’s brand as a tourist destination will also be in order, the Minority stated further.

“… it has become necessary to reassure the Ghanaian populace and to forestall any similar future occurrence by carrying out an immediate safety audit of all tourist destinations with the view of guaranteeing the safety of revelers while also ensuring that Ghana’s international tourism brand is not made to suffer because of this incident which has attracted immense global media coverage.”

The Minority also expressed hope that government would offer some form of financial assistance to the injured, and go a step further to consider providing insurance for tourist sites.

“It is our hope and expectation that Government will assist in offering financial assistance to the injured to help them defray their medical expenses as was the practice when the NDC held political power. Perhaps, after 60 years of independence as a nation, we may now want to consider providing insurance cover for all our recognised tourist sites.”

The accident occurred after a huge tree run off the top of the waterfall, falling onto the scores of revelers swimming beneath the fall.

The deceased and injured persons were students of the Wenchi Senior High School, and the University of Energy and Natural Resources.

Find below the full statement

STATEMENT BY MINORITY OF GHANA’S PARLIAMENT ON THE KINTAMPO WATERFALLS DISASTER

The NDC Minority in Parliament expresses our deepest commiserations with the relations and loved ones of Sunday’s tragedy that occurred at the Kintampo Waterfalls in the Brong Ahafo Region.

We join the nation in praying for the scores injured and for the souls of the 18 departed.

The Minority wishes to commend rescuers including the team from the Ghana National Fire Service and medical staff of Kintampo Municipal Hospital for their timely interventions.

It is most disturbing that this calamity comes at a time the nation is yet to recover from other recent fatalities caused by a surge in motor accidents and suicide cases.

While we grieve, we wish to urge all Ghanaians including journalists to be circumspect in how images from these tragedies are reported and transmitted especially on social media. We ought to be reminded of the dignity of the victims and the sensitivities of their families.

The Minority will like to urge Government to diligently carry out full scale investigations into the Kintampo Waterfalls incident and make the findings public. Additionally, it has become necessary to reassure the Ghanaian populace and to forestall any similar future occurrence by carrying out an immediate safety audit of all tourist destinations with the view of guaranteeing the safety of revellers while also ensuring that Ghana’s international tourism brand is not made to suffer because of this incident which has attracted immense global media coverage.

It is our hope and expectation that Government will assist in offering financial assistance to the injured to help them defray their medical expenses as was the practice when the NDC held political power. Perhaps, after 60 years of independence as a nation, we may now want to consider providing insurance cover for all our recognised tourist sites.

We trust that we can all work together to improve upon the safety and security of all living in Ghana.

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

The post Gov’t must probe Kintampo falls disaster – Minority appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The accident occurred after a huge tree run off the top of the waterfall, falling onto the scores of revellers swimming beneath the fall.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XcUiNj1hhZw8fpQ1yLSlejgbdDzAVCUn”]The deceased and injured persons were students of the Wenchi Senior High School, and the University of Energy and Natural Resource.

In a Facebook post, the President, who is currently away in Switzerland for the Africa CEO Forum, said: “I have learnt with great sadness, the unfortunate incident that occurred at Kintampo Waterfalls. My deepest condolences to the families of all those affected by this unfortunate and tragic incident.”

An eyewitness indicated that the accident occurred at about 4.30pm when there was a heavy gust of wind which felled the tree at the top of the waterfall.

Rescue efforts involved persons with chainsaws cutting the trees in an attempt to save the others who were trapped under water.

Tour guides chased away prior to disaster

Meanwhile, the Chief of Kyeremankoma, the town where the Kintampo Waterfall is located, said tour guides at the Kintampo waterfall site were chased away by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when the party came into office.

He believes the absence of these tour guides might have contributed to the accident.

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

The post Nana Addo mourns victims of Kintampo falls disaster appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.