Kintampo disaster: Minority demands immediate safety audit of all tourist sites

The Minority in Parliament has joined dozens to express sympathy with families of victims of the Kintampo Waterfalls disaster that claimed 20 lives.

In a statement issued on Monday, March 20, the Minority, however, warned journalists to be circumspect in posting images accompanying their reportage.

Signed by leader Haruna Iddrisu, the statement urged government to demand full scale investigations and make same public and, more importantly, carry out a safety audit of all tourist sites “to forestall any similar future occurrence”.

The disaster occurred on Sunday when students of the Wenchi Methodist Senior High School had visited the site after a two-day field trip. Some students of University of Mines and Technology are also reported to have been part of the casualties.

The Minority says government should “assist in offering financial assistance to the injured to help them defray their medical expenses as was the practice when the NDC held political power”.

“Perhaps, after 60 years of independence as a nation, we may now want to consider providing insurance cover for all our recognised tourist sites.”

Find below the full statement:

STATEMENT BY MINORITY OF GHANA’S PARLIAMENT ON THE KINTAMPO WATERFALLS DISASTER

The NDC Minority in Parliament expresses our deepest commiserations with the relations and loved ones of Sunday’s tragedy that occurred at the Kintampo Waterfalls in the Brong Ahafo Region.

We join the nation in praying for the scores injured and for the souls of the 18 departed. The Minority wishes to commend rescuers including the team from the Ghana National Fire Service and medical staff of Kintampo Municipal Hospital for their timely interventions.

It is most disturbing that this calamity comes at a time the nation is yet to recover from other recent fatalities caused by a surge in motor accidents and suicide cases. While we grieve, we wish to urge all Ghanaians including journalists to be circumspect in how images from these tragedies are reported and transmitted especially on social media.

We ought to be reminded of the dignity of the victims and the sensitivities of their families. The Minority will like to urge Government to diligently carry out full scale investigations into the Kintampo Waterfalls incident and make the findings public.

Additionally, it has become necessary to reassure the Ghanaian populace and to forestall any similar future occurrence by carrying out an immediate safety audit of all tourist destinations with the view of guaranteeing the safety of revellers while also ensuring that Ghana’s international tourism brand is not made to suffer because of this incident which has attracted immense global media coverage. It is our hope and expectation that Government will assist in offering financial assistance to the injured to help them defray their medical expenses as was the practice when the NDC held political power.

Perhaps, after 60 years of independence as a nation, we may now want to consider providing insurance cover for all our recognised tourist sites. We trust that we can all work together to improve upon the safety and security of all living in Ghana.

Signed, Hon.

Haruna Iddrisu

(Minority Leader)