Over 35 Victims of Appiatse Explosion Battle for Their Lives Due to Metal Remains in Their Bodies

At least 36 victims of the 2022 Appiatse explosion are still in critical condition, suffering from various degrees of injuries that require intensive medical services.

Among these victims, 12 have broken bones, ten have metal fragments in their bodies, five have abdominal injuries, four have eye injuries, two have head injuries, and two are paralyzed.

Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni-Valley constituency, explained that these victims continue to rely on government support and must travel to hospitals daily at their own expense.

The situation is worsening as many of the victims, who are primarily farmers, are now paralyzed and unable to work, leaving them with no means of livelihood since the incident.

The MP called on the government to provide medical support to the 26 victims who are battling for their lives with metal remains in their bodies. He emphasized that some paralyzed victims lack the necessary resources to sustain their medical condition, making government intervention crucial.

Recently, the government commissioned 124 housing units as part of the resettlement efforts for the devastated community. However, the MP noted that residents still live at the mercy of the weather since the houses have not been handed over to the victims.

He mentioned that the government is waiting for the completion of the second phase of the housing units before handing them over to the deserving victims.

On January 20, 2022, a motorbike rider transporting explosives for a gold mine in Bogoso collided with a truck, causing an explosion in the Appiatse community near Bogoso, within the Prestea Huni-Valley constituency. Following the blast, community members rushed to the scene, but a second explosion occurred a few minutes later, destroying dozens of buildings and injuring many.

A total of 13 people were confirmed dead, and 59 sustained various degrees of injuries and were referred to various health facilities for treatment. According to official records, 3,300 people (1,122 males and 2,178 females) were affected by the explosion, excluding those who were at the various health centers.