Government Cuts Sod for Commencement of Appiatse Reconstruction Project Phase Three
- The government has launched phase three of the Appiatse reconstruction after raising over GH¢112 million in support funds
- Concerns have emerged about structural defects in the earlier phases, prompting calls for improved designs from affected residents
- 68 people claimed they were excluded from the reconstruction and demanded inclusion and transparency in the third phase
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The government has reportedly cut sod to commence the third phase of the Appiatse reconstruction project.
This follows the accumulation of GH₵112 million through the Appiatse Support Fund, with about GH₵60mil spent on phase one and two reconstruction projects so far.
Source: UGC
The announcement was made by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, during a sod-cutting ceremony for phase three of the reconstruction project.
"Upon taking office as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the President of Ghana tasked me with ensuring that whatever is left to complete the Appiatse reconstruction project is done as soon as practicable. I gave him my word. So far, the leadership of the Appiatse Support Fund, led by Joyce Aryee, has received GH₵112mil in the Fund, out of which GH₵60mil has been used for the first two phases of the reconstruction projects,” he said.
Buah and the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, during the sod-cutting of the third phase, visited the phase one and two construction sites, aiming to explore ways to improve the project for phase three.
Appiatse residents complain about alleged building defects
Just a year after the commissioning of the phase one buildings, occupants have reported defects, claiming they had alerted the contractor during construction. Unfortunately, their warnings were allegedly ignored.
Ernestina Orlando Aidoo, a resident of New Appiatse, speaking to YEN.com.gh, said that domestic animals always have access to food items in the kitchen, as all kitchens in the Phase One and Two projects are without doors.
She added that staircases connecting to their apartments were made with cheap materials, even affecting the sewage system.
It is in this regard that Secretary of so-called Phase Three Victims, Joseph Abu, has called for an improved design and execution of the project, while appealing to the reconstruction committee to involve the 68 affected people.
He suggested that the contractor for the third phase project might consider building plans from those affected if made available.
“There have been some concerns raised by victims residing in the two completed projects, and these are over structural defects emerging in Phase One, prompting calls for improvements in the design and implementation of the upcoming phase,” Abu said.
He further called for transparency and asked authorities to resolve all compensation issues.
Following the commissioning of 124 housing units in Appiatse's first reconstruction phase and the sod-cutting ceremony for phase three, 68 landowners whose properties were acquired for the project felt neglected.
Meanwhile, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister has assured that the government is committed to completing phase three and providing care for those injured during the incident.
Source: Facebook
Police's account of Appiatse explosion
YEN.com.gh also previously reported that the police gave a detailed report of the explosion in Appiatse on January 20, 2022.
According to the police report, the accident involved a DAF vehicle and a motorcycle, with lives claimed and properties wrecked.
Source: YEN.com.gh
