The frontview of the house where the missile landed with residents discussing the issue
Multiply explosions rocked Base Ammunition Depot (BAD) at the First Infantry Battalion at Michel Camp in Tema in the early hours of yesterday resulting in the place engulfing in fire.
The explosions, accompanied by flying missiles some of which landed in residential areas bordering the base, sent people fleeing for their lives.
The explosion triggered debate on the safety of the place, following sprawling of houses and other physical structures around the exclusive military zone.
Panic stricken residents in Kakasunanka No.1 and Gbetsile had to flee to safety in Mataheko and Afienya after they were woken by the sound of huge explosions and the shouts of military personnel on motorcycles ordering them to run for their lives.
At New Crystal Clinic, a nurse on duty, Favour Kumakpata told this reporter that at 12:30 am eight staff whisked nine patients, some holding their drips away into a yard and hide behind a wall.
Some of the residents were said to have fled half-naked as they did not have time to dress up properly.
BAD is the armoury for the First Infantry Battalion of the Ghana Armed Forces which stocks a large consignment of ammunitions.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, however, the Director at the Directorate of Public Relations at the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. Aggrey Quarshie said the military managed to bring the situation under control and had launched probe into the incident.
According to him the fire was detected in the laboratory and small arms zone of the depot so personnel focused their efforts in halting its spread to the areas housing the highly explosive zone where long range ordinances were located. There were however no casualties.
When the Ghanaian Times visited some of the affected areas some people had gathered to discuss the ordeal they went through.
One house in Kakasunaka No.1 near the Mawuli School had its roof ripped open by a missile which landed on the verandah and then penetrated the door into the room. The heat from the object burned part of the curtain before landing in the room.
This, however, happened a moment after the occupant, Samuel Mensah, had left the room to attend to the call of nature.
The object was retrieved by a resident, Anthony Nukpenu, a former Presiding Member of Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly and handed over to some Military personnel at BAD.
Mr Nukpenu appealed to the government to consider relocating the BAD now that a lot of developments have sprung up around it.
He said when the BAD was established several years ago the area was surrounded by bushes and drained by an adjoining stream which had enough moisture in the atmosphere to moderate the temperature of the area, however the situation had changed with increased developments.
Another resident, Philipa Aidoo, a mother of two said she was awakened by a loud explosion which shook their building as if an earthquake had occurred.
“My husband and I hurriedly carried our children aged six and two years to Goshen International School at Mataheko, where we passed the remaining hours of the night at a friend’s house and only returned here at 8:40 am,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant General Obed Akwa said although the destruction was serious, he did not expect any escalation as the situation was under control and pose no threat to people living in that settlement.
He said the fire broke out at one of the store houses in the BAD and within 20 minutes fire tenders were brought in to control the fire.
This was when he led the Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul and other officers to ascertain what happened and the extent of destruction after the fire outbreak.
He advised residents of the community not to touch any foreign object they come across in the area but rather inform personnel of Michel Camp and the commanding officer of the BAD to take action.
From GODFRED BLAY GIBBAH, Tema.
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