The Western Region's Prestea-Huni-Valley municipality's Appiatse, close to Bogoso, would be rebuilt, according to Samuel Abu Jinapor, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
He said that a lot of preparation work had been done in order to start the reconstruction of the first 124 dwelling units for the residents of Appiatse.
He said that Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president, will lay the groundwork for a better and more equitable settlement this month.
The minister was speaking during a trip of the Dumasi relief camp, during which he saw the beginning of the survivors' original housing being torn down and gave some food to them personally.
The anticipated cost of reconstructing 600 homes and surrounding structures that were damaged in the fatal explosion on January 20, 2022 is GH70 million.
structural soundness
According to the minister, part of the expected number of structures would need to be demolished, while others that pass a structural integrity test will be refurbished or returned to its prior condition and given to the owners.
He praised Corporate Ghana's efforts as well as those of individuals who had given and were currently giving building supplies for the rebuilding and humanitarian aid.
Benito Owusu Bio, a deputy minister for lands and natural resources, urged sustained assistance, adding, "I must emphasise we are nothing near the expected cost of GH70 million."
Building and Engineering
He informed the crowd that the Architectural & Engineering Services Limited (AESL) had been given the contract, that the teams were working on the designs at the time, and that the committee will keep them informed at every stage of the process.
Let me promise you that the government will make sure that every pesewa donated toward the rehabilitation is put to good use for the project, he said.
According to the deputy minister, the community would have designated areas for social and economic activities when it was finished, such as a defined area for the production of Fante kenkeys, tailoring, and hairdressing, a centre for bone-healing, the original trade of the community's founding father, Egya Appia, and a market.
I need more contributions
"We still don't have enough, therefore we still need donations," he added, referring to both humanitarian relief and building supplies like cement and iron rods.
A well-designed building that defines the space on the ground has been created at the site in accordance with the land use plan. The 120 plots that make up the core area have been identified, and the Department of Urban Roads will now designate the roads according to the pattern and the AESL pre-contract drawing.
According to Mr. Bio, the core houses will be handled by about three contractors.
Currently, the utility providers - the ECG and the Community Water and the local surveyors - have finished pillaring and mapping on the ground.
He said that the residences' designs were finished and continued, "I must stress that the rebuilding will get under way quickly, and we will provide the core in no time."
The patterns
Mr. Bio responded that the committee did not impose the design on the people and that it was open to options, suggestions, among others. When asked if the reconstruction of Appiatse would still maintain the communal space where the indigenous people would freely interact and share basic necessities, Mr. Bio said that it would.
He said that the community's history both before and after the accident was taken into account in the AESL's design. All 1,030 residents of the settlement camp had been relocated to a partially finished structure when the Daily Graphic visited last Wednesday.