Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoako Hene, has pledged 5,000 cedis in financial support for each of the thirty households affected by the devastating explosion in Odumasi, near Konongo.
Shops selling mining explosives were responsible for the explosion, which has now claimed three lives.
“I have instructed NADMO here to provide us with a comprehensive report on the households affected so that we can assess how best to intervene. I will also instruct the NADMO stores at the regional level to release all available emergency items to support the affected families,” Dr. Frank stated.
“Additionally, we are supporting each household with 5,000 cedis—all 30 households—which amounts to nearly one hundred and fifty thousand cedis. We will make these funds available to the coordinating director and the Nananom so that the households can receive some emergency relief for the days ahead,” he added.
The tragic explosion occurred on the night of March 5, 2025, at Odumasi, near Konongo, in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
There are now additional safety concerns in the area, as the explosion happened just a few meters from a petrol station.
Authorities say the operators of the explosive shops have absconded, and security agencies are actively investigating and tracking them down. Sadly, some locals attacked the Ghana National Fire Service with stones and forced them to leave when they arrived to put out the fire.
Although the motive behind the attack remains unclear, some sources speculate that resentment and mistrust toward emergency services may have fueled the violence. Authorities are working to assess the full impact of the explosion while rescue efforts continue.
The powerful blast left several people injured and caused widespread destruction. It shattered windows, damaged structures, and sent residents running for their lives.
By Najat Adamu
