Atomic Explosion: Punish all culpable officials – One Ghana Movement

Seven people were confirmed dead in the blast, whilst 132 people sustained varying degrees of injury.

The huge fireball from the explosion could be seen for miles around with many people in the vicinity taking to their heels in a bid to escape the blaze.

A number of people who sustained injuries in the blaze and the ensuing panic were taken to surrounding hospitals to receive treatment.

This was the eighth gas explosion in the country since 2013, a situation the group considers unfortunate as no persons have been held accountable for failing to ensure the incidents don’t occur.

In a statement, One Ghana Movement called for an open investigation into the incident and the punishment of officers who facilitated the breaching of safety protocols that might have resulted in the explosion.

“We at OneGhana feel very strongly that such disasters will be halted when actions and inaction are punished. We certainly cannot go on like this as a country! The attainment of Ghana’s potential will remain an illusion unless the culture and attitude of accountability is engrained in our governance and socio-cultural structures. It is important that the public officials granting safety permits realize and understand that in the event of any manipulation of the permitting process which results in safety breaches, the responsible official should be held legally accountable. Likewise regulators should ensure all involved in the industry provide adequate training for staff and keep to health and safety regulations,” the group said.