Committee to investigate gas explosion in Sunyani formed

Sunyani, May 29, GNA - The Brong Ahafo Regional Co-ordinating Counci l (RCC) in collaboration with the Regional Security Council has formed a five-member committee, to investigate circumstances leading to the gas explosion in Sunyani last Tuesday.

The committee is chaired by Mr. Kwasi Oppong Ababio, Sunyani Municip al Chief Executive and Mr. Samuel K. Gyimah, a Deputy Director at the RCC is

secretary to the group, which has two weeks to complete its work and subm it a report. Members of the committee are: Mr. Paul Opoku, Regional Fire Officer,

Chief Superintendent Edward Tabiri, Regional Crime Officer, Mr. Duncan Opare, Regional Director of the Bureau of National Investigations and Mr.

Theophilus Appo of the Attorney General's Department. It would investigate whether the land on which the gas station was located was legally leased by Inter-City State Transport Corporation (STC ) to Agyenim Boateng Gas Filling station, original owners of the station, a nd if the plot was properly re-zoned to include its use for the construction of the station. The committee would also find out whether all the statutory requirements for the construction and operation of a gas filling station,

such as Environmental Protection Agency certification, statutory planning

and development permit, Fire Service certification were acquired before t he gas station started operating and how Louis Gas came to operate at the filling station. Inaugurating the committee, Mr. Eric Opoku, Deputy Regional Ministe r, lauded the commitment of the media to duty, saying "we are impressed with

the zeal and interest that the media in the region have shown since the incident occurred". He said the RCC had confidence in the committee that it would carry

out its task properly. The Regional Administrative Office had given the assurance that the

RCC would implement the recommendations of the committee's report after receiving and studying it. Last Tuesday, an explosion at Louis Gas Filling Station near the Inter-City STC terminal in Sunyani, left six persons, including two fire officers, injured and properties destroyed. Five of the injured persons were treated and discharged at the Sunya ni Regional Hospital but the gas attendant, who sustained serious injuries a nd was referred to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has been reported dead.