Appiatse, September 22, 2026 — The Government has officially commenced Phase Three of the Appiatse Redevelopment Project with a sod-cutting ceremony to pave the way for the construction of 69 additional housing units for households affected by the Appiatse explosion of January 20, 2022.
The ceremony, held at Appiatse in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality, brought together the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; Western Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson; Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley, Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe; Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Mathew Ayeh; Divisional Chief of Beppoh, Nana Atta Kojo Brembi II; representatives of the Appiatse Reconstruction Committee, Local Implementation Committee, project consultant, contractors, traditional authorities, security agencies and other stakeholders.
The Appiatse explosion, which occurred on January 20, 2022, resulted in loss of lives, injuries, destruction of properties and the displacement of residents. The redevelopment project was subsequently initiated to provide permanent accommodation and restore the community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Atta Kojo Brembi II, Divisional Chief of Beppoh, described the commencement of Phase Three as a significant milestone in the efforts to restore Appiatse. He said the redevelopment was not only about constructing houses but also about restoring security, dignity, privacy, stability and a sense of belonging to affected families.
He commended the Government, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Appiatse Reconstruction and Fund Management Committee, Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal Assembly, traditional authorities and other stakeholders for their contributions.
Nana Atta Kojo Brembi II, however, appealed to the Government to consider the construction of a Chief’s Palace and a Junior High School (JHS) as part of the redevelopment. He also called for the speedy payment of outstanding land compensation to affected community members.
The Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Mathew Ayeh, expressed appreciation to the Government and all stakeholders for their continued commitment to the redevelopment of Appiatse.
He emphasized the need for quality construction, adherence to timelines and effective coordination among the Municipal Assembly, contractors, traditional authorities, government agencies and residents. He assured the people of Appiatse that the Assembly would continue to provide the necessary support to facilitate the successful completion of the project.
The Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley, Hon. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, recalled the devastation caused by the 2022 explosion and welcomed the commencement of another phase of the reconstruction process.
He raised concerns about the construction materials used in some earlier works, particularly the use of landcrete blocks, noting that affected residents had expressed a preference for concrete blocks forPhase Three. He called for strict adherence to quality standards and effective monitoring of construction materials.
Hon. Cudjoe also urged beneficiaries to channel concerns through the Local Implementation Committee rather than confronting contractors directly. He further called for accountability regarding reports of possible diversion of project materials and stressed the need to address outstanding compensation and related concerns arising from the disaster.
Representing the Western Regional Coordinating Council, the Regional Minister, Hon. Joseph Nelson, described the commencement of Phase Three as an important milestone in the Government’s efforts to rebuild Appiatse.
He stressed that the project was about more than providing houses, emphasizing the need to restore the dignity, security, privacy and sense of belonging of affected families.
The Regional Minister called on residents and other stakeholders to remain peaceful and cooperative with contractors and implementing agencies to avoid delays. He assured stakeholders of the continued coordination and oversight of the Regional Coordinating Council throughout the implementation of the project.
The Project Consultant, AESL, represented by Architect Basil Akushi, said the commencement of Phase Three demonstrated the Government’s commitment to completing the redevelopment of Appiatse.
He disclosed that Phase Three would consist of 69 housing units in six categories, comprising 17 one-bedroom units, 23 two-bedroom units, 14 three-bedroom units, 12 four-bedroom units, one five-bedroom unit and two six-bedroom units.
According to him, the new phase had been designed as an improvement on previous phases, with emphasis on green and sustainable development. He indicated that procurement arrangements were far advanced and expressed the expectation that the project would be completed within one year.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, described the sod-cutting as a long-awaited milestone towards restoring the Appiatse community.
He recalled the devastating impact of the January 2022 explosion and said the redevelopment programme was established to help affected persons rebuild their lives and restore hope.
The Minister disclosed that 124 housing units had been delivered under Phase One, while 50 households had been compensated under Phase Two. He said Phase Three would provide the remaining 69 housing units for affected households.
He noted that the designs for the new phase had been reviewed to incorporate the needs and feedback of beneficiaries, with the broader objective of creating an Appiatse that is safer, stronger, greener and more resilient.
Hon. Buah urged contractors, consultants and the technical team to give the project the necessary attention and ensure that quality standards were maintained. He also called on the Local Implementation Committee and residents to take ownership of the project, monitor its implementation and channel concerns through the appropriate structures.
He further emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the management of materials and other resources associated with the redevelopment.
The sod-cutting ceremony marks the beginning of the final phase of the Appiatse Redevelopment Project and is expected to bring permanent accommodation to the remaining affected households.
The successful completion of the 69 housing units will require continued collaboration among the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Western Regional Coordinating Council, Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal Assembly, traditional authorities, Appiatse Reconstruction Committee, Local Implementation Committee, AESL, contractors and the affected community.