The Ashanti Region town of Dadieso and its environs have been declared safe after emergency services successfully removed a broken-down gas tanker from the main Kumasi-Accra highway.
The tanker, which was carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), had been stranded at an accident site for nearly 72 hours following a road collision.
The situation sparked anxiety among the youth who blocked the main Accra-Kumasi highway in protest on Saturday (4 May).
“We rushed to the scene and discovered it was a gas tanker. We had waited for hours but the fire service hadn’t been there. This is a disaster-in-waiting”, an angry protester stated.
“I have not been able to cook food because I fear any naked flame could cause an explosion. Some of my friends have even fled to neighbouring towns. This is quite disturbing”, another said.
The police were later called in to clear the road as the protest left commuters stranded for hours.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service however confirmed to Asaase News on Sunday (5 May) that the gas-filled tanker had been removed. It further confirmed a separate accident at Odumase on that fateful day.
Three people were confirmed dead in the accident.
Read the full statement issued by the GNFS below:
On May 3, 2024, Dadieso and Odumase witnessed chaotic scenes as two (2) separate accidents rattled the communities off the Kumasi-Accra highway. The morning head-on collision in Dadieso involved a DAF XF (11 NN 8354) truck and a Kia Bongo (GX 3006-22), leaving five (5) injured males, while swift intervention by firefighters from the Konongo Fire Station prevented a potential fire disaster from the fallen 24-tonne LPG bulk of the DAF XF truck highlighting the challenges faced by rescuers despite swift responses.
In the evening, Odumase faced its tragedy with a collision between a Nissan mini-bus (GG 2611-23) and a DAF XF (AW 163-18), resulting in one (1) injury and three (3) fatalities, which prompted the urgent need for coordinated emergency response by the GNF, POLICE and AMBULANCE SERVICES and a renewed commitment to road safety measures.
The immediate vicinity (including residents) of the crash scene has been evacuated to safety to make way for the LPG to be transferred into another truck. The cause of both collisions remains under investigation. These incidents serve as sobering reminders of the fragility of life on the roads and the crucial role of collective action in preventing future tragedies.
Filed by the PRO,
Ashanti Region
(Saturday, May 04, 2024)
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Ashanti Region
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