Communal Labour Ends in Disaster

Ve-Deme (Volta Region), 22nd July '99,

Seven enthusiastic communal labour participants were burnt severely when a concrete pole they were erecting for electricity supply to the town caught fire and exploded at the weekend.

The pole touched an overhead high tension wire, caught fire and exploded, severely burning the participants and turning the happiness of the people into anguish.

Mr Kwaku Nulanyo, 42, a farmer, Mr Maxwell Ackotia, 29, and Mr Ofin Gyebi, 32, both technicians with the Transelectric Company, are on admission while the others have been discharged.

Mr Kwasi Ayirebi, Assemblyman for the area, said "a low tension pole was being erected under a high tension wire when it caught fire and exploded and, in a split of a second, the seven had collapsed but regained consciousness at the hospital".

Togbe Delume the seventh, Paramount Chief of Ve Traditional Area, said the upkeep and the medical expenses of the victims are being borne by the people of Ve-Deme.

He appealed for support for the victims and called for the early completion of the project.

GRi