Kintampo is one of the country’s top tourist centres in the country. It is a naturally beautiful place where Ghanaians mostly relax and tour during the weekends. Most students in the country find the place a very good avenue for excursion.
Recently, at least 18 people died after a large tree fell on them in kintampo. A local police chief, Owusu Boampong said the students were swimming during a storm when the freak accident happened. He further stated that 22 others were injured and rushed to the hospital for immediate treatment. The urgent assistance of rescue themes came to place as they had to use chainsaws to cut through the fallen tree in order to free those trapped underneath. Police and fire service were also present at the scene for rescue. An eye witness explained that most of the victims were the students of Wenchi Methodist High School and the remaining were tourists from Ghana and other countries.
Reports revealed that, the accident occurred at about 4.30pm on Sunday [March 19, 2017], when a huge tree run off the top of the water fall, descending on the dozens of revelers who were swimming beneath the fall. Awudu Isahaku who witnessed the incident said, “There was a heavy wind in the Kintampo area earlier today, so the huge tree fell at the top and descended onto the people who were swimming in the river beneath the fall. It has killed about 18 people. We are down here with chainsaw machines cutting the trees in attempt to save the many others trapped under the water. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service and even some traditional leaders are here to save the victims.”
After the incident, it was unveiled that tour guides at the Kintampo waterfall site were sacked by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) when the party came into office. The Chief of Kyeremankoma, the town where the deadly Kintampo waterfall disaster occurred, revealed this to the public.
Some people believe the absence of these tour guides might have contributed to the accident since their duty is to monitor and provide security everybody in the tourist centre.
One of the firemen at the scene, fireman Kwaku Boateng explained the situation of things as they arrived at the scene of the incident”It was the upper part of one of the biggest trees that came crashing down on them. It was a horrifying scene as the area was engulfed in screams and shouts for help as we arrived,”
Ghana’s Tourism Minister, Catherine Afeku also extends the country’s condolences to the families of the dead and pray for the injured who have been rushed to the Kintampo and Techiman General Hospital. She added that an investigation would be conducted into the incident.
Similarly, the president of Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo has tweeted his condolences to the families of the victims and promised to give special care to the survivors in the hospital.
The president of Ghana has promised to investigate the matter and put every rightful thing in place to avoid a reoccurence of such disaster. Hopefully, the victims’ families will be compensated.
