Members of Parliament from mining communities in the Western Region of the National Democratic Congress have voiced concern over the Minister of Land and Natural Resources' responses to urgent inquiries from Parliament about the Appiatse catastrophe victims.
Isaac Adjei Mensah, MP for WASSA East Constituency, questioned why the government has been unable to begin building of new homes for the victims as promised, describing the Minister's comments as unsatisfactory and an insult to the victims of the Appiatse explosion accident.
On Tuesday, June 7th, 2022, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, appeared before the Chamber to respond to two urgent questions:
Mr. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe (Prestea-Huni-Valley) (a): To request that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources provide an update on the Appiatse Funds' financial sheet to the good people of our country.
(a) Mr. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe (Prestea-Huni-Valley): To request that the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources provide a complete report on all things provided to the victims of the Appiatse explosion disaster by individuals and groups.
Since its inception, more than GHC 42 million has been added to the Appiatse Support Fund account, as well as other non-monetary gifts such as cement and wood, according to the Minister.
"Mr. Speaker, as of Monday, June 6th, 2022, the Committee has received monetary donations totalling 42,527,380.02 cedis," he remarked. This sum comprises Maxam Ghana Limited's four-part installment payment.
"One million Ghana cedis has been granted to the Appiatse Reconstruction Implementation Committee to finish temporary structures to house the incident victims," he stated.
However, the Minister caused controversy in the House when he claimed that the MP for Prestea Huni Valley, the constituency where the explosion happened, had not donated to the Appiatse Support Fund.
He took advantage of the occasion to criticize the Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni Valley, who also happens to be the Community's MP, of not contributing to the fund, but this did not sit well with the MP.
Isaac Adjei Mensah, who defended his colleague vehemently, recalled many occasions when they accompanied the MP in question to Appiatse to contribute various goods from his personal account, including food, water, beds, and other items valued more over GHC 10,000.
Apart from the GHC 42 million plus that has accumulated to the fund from private businesses and people, the MP has asked the government to reveal how much it has given to help the Appiatse victims.
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