By Nneka Nwogwugwu
17 persons have been confirmed dead after an explosion occurred in Bogoso, a town in western Ghana on Thursday evening.
As at the time of this report, efforts to rescue injured persons were still on.
According to local authorities, the explosion occurred when a mining truck carrying explosives for a gold mine collided with a motorcycle.
“A total of 17 people have unfortunately been confirmed dead, and 59 injured people have been rescued,” Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said in a statement released overnight.
“It is a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident, and I extend, on behalf of the government, deep condolences to the families of the deceased, and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.
“The Police, Armed Forces and the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are coordinating efforts to contain the situation, and I have also instructed NADMO to see to it that rapid relief is brought to residents of the town.
“Government will spare no effort to ensure a rapid return to a situation of normalcy for residents of Apiate.”
