Nana Atta Kojo Bremebi II, Chief of Bepoh in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region, has refuted the claims by the police that the DAF truck which was transporting the explosive materials to the mine site was led by police escort.
The chief in whose jurisdiction the Appiatse community falls stated unequivocally that there was not any form of an escort before the incident happened on Thursday, January 20, 2022.
Nana Bremebi II made the assertion when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, his Deputy, Mr George Mireku-Duker, Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye; Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah and some government officials visited the town to commiserate with them.
The Chief also expressed his readiness to challenge the claims by the police to prove to the entire world that what the police has put out in the public domain was far from the truth and trying to concede the truth.
He, therefore, asked for a thorough investigation to be carried on the incident to ascertain every detail of what led to the explosion.
Nana Bremebi II questioned whether the police escort was sitting in the truck carrying the explosives or was leading the truck with a motorbike saying, “If anyone wants to challenge what I’m saying, he should come forward and answer to questions from me.”
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapour assured the chief and people of Appiatse that the government will not leave any stone unturned during the investigation process of the circumstances that led to the explosion.
He further assured that the investigation will be comprehensive, fair, accurate and based on integrity.
Early on, a report released by the Western Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service said on 20/01/2022 about 1325 hours, D/Cpl Isaac Kamanim of Firearms Unit, Tarkwa was escorting explosives from MAXAM Company, Tarkwa, in a DAF van with registration number WR 2252-18 driven by Alfred Pappoe to Chirano Gold Mines in the Western North Region.
It said a section of the road between Bogoso and Bawdie, a motorcycle rider from the opposite direction ran under the van carrying the explosives. The motorcycle caught fire, ignited the van which burst into flames and exploded.
The driver sustained a deep cut on the head and was rushed to the Government Hospital, Tarkwa.
According to the report, the Police escort escaped unhurt while a number of people including the motorbike rider were feared dead. Extensive damage was caused to a nearby ECG transformer.
“Also, a number of nearby buildings were razed down while that portion of the road was damaged with some vehicles plying that road damaged too whereas passengers and inhabitants sustained varying degrees of injuries.”
“Crime scene, Intelligence and CID Operations teams led by Deputy Regional Commander DCOP Adusah-Poku assisted by the Regional Crime Officer C/SUPT Ebenezer Boryor and SUPT Saviour Ahiamadi proceeded to the scene and will update.” The report concluded,
