NPP consoles families of Okyereko accident victims

Winneba (C/R), May 13, GNA- The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has consoled the families of nationals of Cote d' Ivoire, Liberia, Benin, Nigeria and Togo who died in a multiple road accident, which occurred at Okyereko, near Winneba-Junction during the early hours of last Friday. The accident involving seven vehicles, including two articulated trucks, has been described as the worst Ghana has recorded in recent years.

The NPP comforted members of the families not to break down psychological even though the accident was tragic and took away the lives of people who were contributing meaningfully to the upkeep of their relatives and to the development of their countries. This was contained in a joint statement signed by Mr. Samuel Kofi Owusu-Agyei, Deputy Minister of Health and NPP Member of Parliament for Effutu, Mr. Kofi Taylor, NPP Constituency Chairman for Effutu and Mr. Solomon Kwashie Abbam-Quaye, District Chief Executive for Ewutu-Effutu-Senya.

When the GNA accompanied Mr. Owusu-Agyei, Mr. Abbam-Quaye and the Winneba District Police Commander, Mr. Nicholas Gasu to the Winneba Government Hospital, it was observed that they were ensuring that passengers who sustained various degree of injuries were treated and the bodies of the 41 victims who died in the tragedy were adequately handled.

Some NPP District Executives also visited to the hospital and expressed sympathy to the injured persons who were admitted there. Mr. Owusu-Agyei and Mr. Abbam-Quaye praised personnel of the Awutu-effutu-Senya District branch of the Ghana National Fire Service, the police, doctors, nurses and workers of the National Ambulance Service, operating in the district, for their high sense of team work in handling the situation.

Mr. Owusu-Agyei and Mr. Abbam-Quaye also commended the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, NPP Regional officers and government officials who visited the accident spot and the hospital to console the accident victims.

According to Mr. Owusu-Agyei, the visit inspired professionals, individuals and groups of persons who rushed to the accident spot to perform 'Good Samaritan' work.

He added his voice to the numerous calls on drivers in the West African Sub-Region, particularly those in Ghana to observer traffic regulations to avoid road accidents.

Mr. Owusu-Agyei, cautioned drivers that the reshaping of the Accra-Cape Coast trunk road to international standard was not a trump card for them to increase road accidents.

Mrs Ellen Dzodzegbe, a Senior Staff Nurse of the hospital, told the Hospital for further treatment.

She said at the moment only six victims were on admission at the male ward adding that all of them were responding to treatment. At the female ward, a Superintendent Enrolled Nurse Madam Agnes Tetteh, appealed to the Deputy Health Minister to help send a victim of the accident, Madam Etse to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, where she has been referred to for emergency medical attention. According to Mad. Tetteh, the woman had been in comma since she was brought to the Winneba Government Hospital.

Meanwhile, Dr. Ibitayo Joseph of Ibitayo Hospital, Ejijho, Ogun State, Nigeria, had settled the medical bills of two Nigeria nationals who were admitted at the hospital with severe injuries they received during the accident and subsequently transported them by road back home for further treatment.

Dr. Ibitayo described Nathaniel Olakule 36 years, and Alhaji Taduyeeru 39 years as his best business partners. Dr. Ibitayo thanked the Government and people of Ghana for demonstrating love and fellow feeling towards nationals of the various countries involved in the accident.

Mr. Owusu-Agyei also thanked Dr. Ibitayo for coming to the aid of the accident victims.