The government of Ghana has launched a support fund to assist persons affected by the explosion at Appeate which occurred on Thursday, 20 January 2022.

The Endowment Fund is to be managed by a five-member committee that has been tasked to manage and disburse the fund with all necessary transparency.

The terms of reference of the committee are to raise sufficient funds and supervise its disbursement.

Launching the fund, the minister tasked the members of the committee to ensure that the disbursement of the funds accrued would be done in a passionate and transparent manner.

“The committee has been tasked to raise sufficient funds for the Appiatse Support Fund. They are also to supervise the disbursement of the fund in accordance with the highest standards of integrity and transparency for the sole benefit of the people of Appiatse. I am confident that given the calibre of the citizens assembled, they’ll execute this task in a fair, transparent and prudent manner.”

…I passionately and respectfully call on all Ghanaians and residents of Ghana and friends of Ghana, companies, civil society organizations and all and sundry to generously contribute to this noble endeavour,” he stated.

 
Rev. Dr Joyce Aryee, chairperson of the five-member committee said: “On behalf of my colleagues, we accept this honour, we accept this privilege and we ask for your support especially, members of the media ask for your support.”

“We ask that the reason that this Fund has been set up will be fully realized that the people of Appiatse will know that we live in a nation that is compassionate, under a government that cares deeply for every single person in this nation. And I know that within a short time we’ll see great things happening,” she stated.

Already, the government has made a GHC200, 000 seed fund to support families and victims of Thursday’s deadly explosion.

The five board members include Chairperson Rev. Dr. Joyce Aryee, Former CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Tetrete Okuamoah Sakyi II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, and a Member of the Western Regional House of Chief and Board Chairman of the Forestry Commission.

The others are; Philip Owiredu, Managing Director of CAL Bank, and Dr. Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana.

Also, a representative from the Ghana Chamber of Mines was included as a member of the board.

By: Kwaku Stephen