Take measures to prevent recurrence of waterfalls disaster — MPs

Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for measures to be put in place to prevent the recurrence of the Kintampo Waterfalls disaster in which about 20 students lost their lives.

They also called for a probe into the incident to establish the facts surrounding the tragedy.

The March 19, 2017, tragedy occurred when a mighty "Kyenkyen" tree fell from a height of about 50 metres on top of the Kintampo Water Falls to the naturally created swimming pool at the base of the falls.

The students were from the Wenchi Methodist Senior High School and the University of Energy and Renewable Natural Resources.

The MP for Kintampo North, Mr Kwasi Etu-Bonde, and the MP for Tano North, Ms Freda Akosua Prempeh, made the calls in separate statements delivered in Parliament last Tuesday. 

The MP for Kintampo South, Ms Felicia Adjei, added her voice to the call in a contribution.

Probe the incident

Mr Etu-Bonde asked the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Arts to conduct a full probe into the incident to ascertain the facts.

He implored the ministry to put preventive measures in place to make the country's eco-tourism safe.

Mr Etu-Bonde urged the government to make provisions to cater for the medical bills of the victims at the various hospitals and also provide appropriate compensations for the families of those who lost their lives.

He asked the Ministry of Health to provide the Kintampo Municipal Hospital with the needed resources such as ambulances, pick-ups, other medical consumables and power to qualify it as an emergency and trauma centre to handle such disasters that may happen along the Techiman-Kintampo-Tamale highway.”

Mr Etu-Bonde expressed joy that the Kintampo Waterfalls had been closed down and asked for it to be renovated with better safety measures and supported with a qualified management team.

Meteorologists

Ms Prempeh described the incident that led to the death of 20 students and injury to 21 others as heartbreaking.

She called for meteorologists to be well equipped and made to provide weather reports at the Kintampo Waterfalls.

She said the public should be made aware of the danger zones to regulate their movements.

Ms Adjei stressed the need for safety measures to be enhanced and a proper management team put in place to man the falls.

Tourism Minister

The MP for Evalue Ajomoro Gwira and Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Ms Catherine Abelema Afeku, said the result of the safety audit into the incident would be presented to her in the course of the week.

She stated that the government was considering going into a partnership with a private company to improve safety and management of the Kintampo Waterfalls.

Ms Afeku added that the government would still give the community its share of proceeds from the facility.