- "There was another mother who said that every night since Thursday, the child keep screaming at night in her sleep, there was another young lady whose husband died in the disaster and she kept saying that life is not worth living and she had contemplated suicide several times since the incident happened."
Some victims of last Thursday’s explosion at Bogoso-Appiatse in the Western Region are contemplating suicide following the disaster, the Psychiatric Association of Ghana has said.
At least 900 persons have so far been displaced and 13 confirmed dead, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
Speaking to Kwaku Nhyira-Addo on The Asaase Breakfast Show on Tuesday (25 January) after offering psychological help to members of the affected community, the president of the Psychiatric Association of Ghana Dr Ruth Owusu-Antwi called for more support to the victims.
“Some said they are struggling with sleep. Some said they cannot stand noise now because the least noise they become jumpy. They have become apprehensive and they panic. We spoke to a mother who said the child has not spoken since the incident happened on Thursday,” she said.
“There was another mother who said that every night since Thursday, the child keep screaming at night in her sleep, there was another young lady whose husband died in the disaster and she kept saying that life is not worth living and she had contemplated suicide several times since the incident happened.
“These among several other stories we have had to discuss with some of these displaced people, made us know that a large number of these people are going through acute stress disorder and we were able to offer some interventions. Some we have had to give medication to be able to handle their challenges at the moment,” Dr Owusu-Antwi added.
SHC begins Bogoso-Appiatse rebuilding after explosion
Meanwhile, the officials of State Housing Company (SHC) have begun assessing the level of devastation at Appiatse after last Thursday’s explosion levelled the town.
Police say a preliminary investigation has established that a truck filled with explosives for mining collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the explosion at Bogoso-Appiatse in the Western Region. Authorities say 500 buildings were destroyed in the explosion.
At least 13 persons have so far been confirmed dead in the explosion, leaving hundreds of locals displaced, the police said. The explosives were being transported to the Chirano Gold Mine, run by Toronto-based Kinross (K.TO).
The government has commissioned State Housing Company to immediately map out plans to reconstruct the collapsed town.
This was disclosed by the Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday when he visited the accident scene to commiserate with the victims of the accident.
The officials of SHC were seen in the town enumerating the houses and marking them for reconstruction. The SHC technical team was led by its Western Regional head, Kingsley Hagan.
“In all, about 150 houses were enumerated,” Hagan said.
Bawumia on Friday visited the scene and announced that the government was partnering with SHC for the rehabilitation efforts.
Working through the State Housing Company and in collaboration with mining firms operating in the Bogoso area, the government will provide affordable housing for those whose houses were destroyed in the blast.
Fred Dzakpata
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa, and 106.9 in Walewale
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
