Minority sympathise with Kintampo victims

The Minority members in Parliament have expressed concern over the recent tragedy that occurred at Kintampo Waterfalls, which killed about 19 people.

A statement signed by the Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, called on journalists to be circumspect on how images from these tragedies are reported and transmitted, especially on social media.

The following is the full statement;

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 revelers, 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 recognized tourist sites.

We trust that we can all work together to improve upon the safety and security of all living in Ghana.