Gas Explosion In Kumasi: Any Lessons Learnt?

The Kumasi metropolis witnessed a deadly gas explosion on Friday, September 21, 2007. The accident injured hundreds of people and destroyed properties worth billions of cedis. A week earlier, an articulated truck run over a bus opposite the KNUST Police station and left in its trail several casualties. Certainly, the two tragedies have projected Kumasi as unsafe, and hence putting the society under a state of apprehension.

According to AFP report of Sunday, September 23, 2007, ?the gas explosion was due to human error. The person who was discharging the gas did not adhere to safety standards.? This shows that there were clear act of negligence in offloading the gas. The mishap therefore raises three important questions. First, why did the employee took up brazen courage to ignore compliance to safety standards while handling a hazardous substance? Second, why did the Management of the Gas Station not provide adequate supervision for the exercise?

Third, why did Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) overlooked for so long, the citing of a gas station within residential area? At the moment, no explanation would be able to compensate the cost of damage caused by the explosion. We have already paid dearly for our negligence and uncaring disregard to compliance. From what has happened, it is natural to severely criticize the employee who discharged the deadly gas. However, we should not deny the fact that the Management of Engas and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) share equal responsibility for the disaster.

Engas had the greatest responsibility to have ensured that the offloading of the gas was done under approved conditions. KMA also had greater responsibility to have enforced appropriate laws to relocate Engas from its present location because of chemical hazards posed to residents in the area. It is sad to observe that reasonable care was not exercised in each of these circumstances. But do we need to be reminded too often of the disastrous consequences for our operational laxities? This is the reason why society demands from each one of us total commitment and high ethical standards in the performance of our duties.

Engas has paid dearly for carelessness. The company has been closed down. It is also significant for KMA to remind itself that the environmental safety of Kumasi depends on the Assembly acting effectively to ensure higher level of compliance to safety standards, especially by companies dealing in hazardous chemical substances in the metropolis. The Assembly should not waste resources only in removing kiosks from the streets. It should task itself to ensure that the operation of businesses in the metropolis conforms to safety standards. The people of Kumasi also owe much to themselves in ensuring safety in the metropolis. They must be ready to oppose and report companies whose business operations are seen to be unacceptable. This is very important because the overall safety of Kumasi rests on their willingness as individuals to resist conducts that are absolutely impermissible.

For now, the deed has been done, and we cannot cry over spilt milk. However, we can all learn from the wise saying that, ?when we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.? I hope we will all take advice from this noble saying and strive to make compliance our second nature.

John N.K. Otchere Oklahoma, USA.