The explosion injured a total of 180 people.

[contextly_sidebar id=”KF8x2ah5xaeKhbmegh62TToVgaMadyaL”]The injured include firefighters who had gone to the scene to fight the fire. Others were students, police officers, passersby.

Some were treated and discharged in four hospitals in the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis whilst others were airlifted to the 37 and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals in Accra.

Some were also sent to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

The cause of the explosion was not known immediately.

However, the 11-member committee chaired by the deputy Western Regional Minister Eugenia Gifty Kusi said the committee’s investigations revealed that the mate of the driver was responsible for the explosion.

Presenting the report to the Western Regional Minister on Tuesday July 18th, the chairperson explained that “Lambark Gas Company Limited was discharging gas to GHUMCo. Lambark had just employed a driver’s mate three months before the incident who had not been trained. The discharge was handed over to this untrained mate. Untrained hands were handling the discharge of the gas.”

“The mate in the course of the discharge discovered a leakage. Immediately he left the scene for cover. There were different heat sources available at the time too. That led to the explosion. If this mate was trained to do this, he would have known the safety precautions before the discharge and the emergency procedures to adopt when he discovered the leakage.”

Mrs. Kusi noted that a number of recommendations have been made in the report which will given to the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industries Ministry and the presidency for the necessary policy and other actions.

In the meantime, the Western Regional minister Dr. Kweku Afriyie noted that the government is not going to be held responsible for the payment of insurance and other compensation to the victims.

Despite thousands of cash donations made by different donors few weeks after the explosion, the donations are yet to be given to the victims as “modalities for the distribution are yet to be developed.”

–

By: Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tanker driver’s mate caused Takoradi gas explosion – Report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The company has accordingly donated assorted drugs and non-drug items to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority Hospital (GPHA) in Takoradi in a bid to lessen the financial burden brought upon the victims and the hospital.

The items included several pieces of Vioplex-T antibiotic spray, Cuticel (sterile gauze), Gauze bandage and Volpar tablets (Diclofenac sodium+ Paracetamol).

Donating the items on behalf of Ernest Chemists Limited, the Territorial Sales Manager for the Western and Central regions, Mr. Naphtali Ato Impraim said, “the CEO of Ernest Chemists Limited, Mr Ernest Bediako Sampong has decided that the company lend some support to the victims, as well as the hospital by donating to the victims to help alleviate their pain and help their wounds/burns heal faster so they can return to their normal lives.”

He said the company was deeply touched by the accident which occurred on May 9, 2017, disrupting the lives of over 100 victims and their families.

The company, he said had decided to “donate some of its products to the hospital which is under severe pressure to take care of the fire victims. We pray and hope these supplies will be a blessing to you all.”

Mr. Impraim expressed the trust that other capable institutions would hurriedly join in to adequately make life better for these undeserving victims of this regretful catastrophe.

The Medical Director of the GPHA Hospital, Dr. Vitus Annab, who received the items on behalf of the management, expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Ernest Chemists Limited for the heartwarming gesture and said the items would go a long way in helping the victims recover quickly.

He commended the CEO, management and staff of the company for their compassionate response to their plight and gave the assurance that the items would be put to judicious and honest use to alleviate the suffering of the 30 patients currently on admission at the facility.

Some management staff of the hospital present at the ceremony to mark the donation included Alhaji Haruna Ahmed Jambedu (Head of Pharmacy), Madam Comfort Enyinful (Hospital Matron),Dr Ishmael Yamoah and Dr Edward Acquah, both medical officers at the hospital.

–

Source: Ernest Chemists

The post Ernest Chemists supports victims of Takoradi gas explosion appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.