The United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and its partners have handed over relief items to residents of Appiate whose homes were destroyed by a fatal explosion.

Development Diaries gathered that a truck carrying mining explosives intended to be used in the Chirano gold mine exploded in Appiate on 20 January, 2022, killing over a dozen people and leaving 179 others injured.

Report by Citi Newsroom shows that over 170 families were directly affected by the explosion which levelled several buildings in the area.

It is understood that the Bogoso-Anyanfuri highway was heavily damaged by the explosion and over 300 displaced persons are now being housed at the Bogoso Catholic Parish Relief Centre.

‘[UNICEF] handed over relief items – including medical supplies, dignity kits, PPE – to assist children and families recovering from the disaster’, UNICEF said in a tweet.

Humanity First, an international relief and development agency, also coordinated the donation of 21 pints of blood to help victims of the explosion.

‘[Humanity First Ghana], in collaboration with the male youth wing of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Tarkwa, donated [blood] at the [Tarkwa] Municipal [Hospital] to support [victims] of the [Bogoso explosion]. 21 pints of blood was donated’, Humanity First tweeted.

The Ghanian government also launched the Appiate Endowment Fund to among other things offer support and relief items to persons affected by the fatal explosion.

Ghana is the continent’s largest producer of gold with the mining industry accounting for five percent of the country’s GDP.

A study on Enhancing Workplace Safety Culture in the Mining Industry in Ghana warned that the Ghana mining industry is at risk of recording fatal accidents if appropriate measures are not put in place.

Photo source: UNICEF Ghana