The West Akyem Municipal Security Council is expected to meet Tuesday, February 26 over the tragic death of mourners in the Municipality. The meeting will also be attended by the Municipal Health Director, Dr Samuel Agyemang Boateng.
The Chief Executive for West Akyem, Seth Oduro Boadu who doubles as chairman of Security Council tells Starr News Tuesday’s meeting is to ensure stringent enforcement of road traffic regulations to check road traffic breaches by mourners.
The decision follows a fatal accident Thursday, February 21 which involved 71 mourners leading to the death of eight with 63 others injured at Asamankese.
According to the MCE, the Council will direct hospital authorities not to release corpses to bereaved families who troop to the morgue in overloaded vehicles.
Also, the Council will direct the Police MTTD to be stationed to conduct an alcohol test on drivers who drive mourners.
Last week’s accident occurred when a Rhino Truck conveying the 71 mourners, mostly Youth, who were following the corpse of a young man whose body was being transported from the Asamankese Government Hospital morgue to a nearby town, Asuokaw crushed on the road.
At least seven persons including five males and two females died on the spot. The eighth persons died when referred to Eastern Regional Hospital.
The 63 injured persons were admitted at the Asamankese Hospital and stabilized. Some had been discharged Friday Morning with many still on admission.
Five of the victims were on Sunday referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital, Koforidua after hours of a standoff between Doctors and Emergency Technicians of the Ambulance Service who were demanding payment of cash before they transport the patients.
Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) with the Ghana National Ambulance Service refused to transport the accident victims referred to the Eastern Regional Hospital for further treatment over cash.
According to sources, the EMTs are demanding a cash sum of GH¢360 per trip before they would transport the patients—five in all. The families of the victims were, however, unable to afford the sum.
The West Akyem Municipal Assembly intervened, fuelling the ambulance vehicle to allow for the patients to be transported to the Regional Hospital for the needed medical care but the intervention was rejected by Ambulance Technicians who demanded cash instead.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Kojo Ansah
