The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources is urging corporate Ghana to continue to support the reconstruction of 124 housing units at Appiatse town in the Western Region.
The Chairperson of the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee, Mr Benito Owusu-Bio, who is also a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the first phase of the reconstruction would cost GHC45 million while the second phase would cost GHC 80 million.
Mr Owusu-Bio, who was updating the media on the progress of work said “where we are now is the construction stage, particularly the first phase and as you can see here, most of the contractors are working on the substructures which are made of normal blocks, others at the foundation level, some footings level and soon we will be at the flowing level with brickwork to hopefully commence in 5weeks time.”
According to Mr Owusu-Bio, the compressed earth bricks that would be used for the buildings’ top structures are consistent with the government’s vision for a rural town that is eco-friendly, sustainable and green and would serve as an example for other rural communities.
The Deputy Minister said the Electricity Company of Ghana has provided a transformer while Ghana Education Trust Fund has signed a deal to build the community school in the town.
Mr Benito urged Ghanaians and friends of Ghana to donate more because the ultimate goal has not yet been met, adding that “Work has commenced but we still have a deficit so we are pleading with all Ghanaians and other supporters to come and donate to empower us to fully restore the lives of the victims of Appiatse.”
The Appiatse incident occurred due to an accident involving a truck conveying explosive for a mining company, a motorcycle and a third vehicle close to an electricity transformer, reducing the town of Appaitse to rubble, killing inhabitants and injuring scores.
Dzifa Hukporti, ISD
