The Kintampo waterfalls tourist site in the Brong Ahafo Region has been closed down indefinitely, following Sunday’s incident that claimed the lives of 19 students.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, explained that the closure is to enable thorough security and safety checks at the site.
While calling on the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) to embark on a comprehensive safety audit of all major tourist sites in the country, the Ministry also revealed that it will fastrack its request to Parliament for the passage of a Legislative Instrument that will enable the GTA to regulate and certify these tourist sites.
It further commended officials of the District Assembly, the medical staff of the Kintampo General Hospital, officials of the Police , Army, Fire Service, REGSEC and the Youth of Kintampo for their swift response to the disaster.
Officials have released statistics of the number of people who perished and those injured in the Kintampo Waterfalls disaster caused by a late Sunday afternoon rainstorm.
A total of 18 people have been confirmed dead by the Kintampo Municipal Hospital where the bodies and the injured were rushed to by the rescue team.
Trees atop the fall were swept to the ground by the rainstorm killing some revelers who were swimming at the time The dead comprise 12 boys and six girls, of which 15 are from the Wenchi Methodist Senior High School who made a stopover at the waterfalls while returning from an excursion to the Northern Region.
A total of 11 students who were among the injured are on admission at the Emergency Ward of the Municipal Hospital.
Seven others who sustained multiple injuries are admitted at the surgical ward of the Hospital.
A teacher from the Wenchi Methodist SHS whose condition is critical has been transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi while one student from the school has also been taken to the Holy Family Hospital at Techiman. Officials of the Kintampo Municipal Hospital say five of those on admission will be discharged today.
Meanwhile, a number of people have thronged the hospital premises to find out the condition of their wards while others are there to identify their relatives who lost their lives to the tragic accident. Watch below the devastation left by the rainstorm at the Kintampo waterfall.
