Appiatse: Where Appia the herbalist stays
Before January 20, little was known about Appiatse, the mining and farming community sandwiched between Bawdie and Bogoso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
The little knowledge of the town was evident in the variations of the spelling of its name in media reports after the deadly explosion that completely razed down the town.
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The variations included “Apeatse”, “Apeatsi”, “Apiatse” and finally “Appiatse” — the right spelling of the town’s name.
Residents of the town are still counting their losses, and earlier this week, in addition to some donations from organisations and benevolent individuals, the government launched an endowment fund to help in the rebuilding of the community, as well as the rehabilitation of persons affected by the explosion.
Since the news broke, our Western Regional Correspondent has been following the development and reporting on the incidents following the explosion.
Last Wednesday, when he met the Divisional Chief of Bepo, Nana Ataa Kojo Brembi II, at the explosion site, his focus was on the meaning of the name “Appiatse”.
Nana Brembi said the town was named after Opanyin Appia – and that Appia-tse, literally meant -where Appia stays. He recounted that the late Opanyin Appia, was a native of Akoanso in the Central Region and a popular herbalist in his days.
Opanyin Appia, he said, was naturally endowed with knowledge on potent herbal preparations which he used to treat people with broken bones and other forms of ailment.
The story of the healing hands of Opanyin Appia was said to have travelled very far and near. As news of his prowess began to spread, he decided to stay with the people in the Bepo Traditional Area.
Behind the community was a river, and the people crossed to receive treatment. However, looking at the fact that some people could not cross the river, he decided to relocate to the present location.
“He became very popular in the area so after he relocated, people seeking his assistance enquired where he had moved to and they were directed to where Appia stays - Appia “tse”,Nana Brembi explained .
Due to the efficacy of Appia’s herbal medicine, the place developed into a multi-cultural town as people from different parts of the country settled.
Great loss
Nana Brembi said the explosion, which shattered the community last Thursday, had adversely affected the once lovely and friendly community and that his people had lost greatly.
Last Thursday (January 20), he recounted , was like any other day in which the people went about their normal duties only to be struck by such misfortune leading to the loss of lives and properties.
One of the victims, Mr Thomas Morrison, visibly troubled as he spoke to The Mirror said the day would remain on their minds forever.
Fifty-one-year-old Morrison, a carpenter managed to escape but his wife was hit by one of the metals from the flames which pierced her thighs
Mr Morrison, who was a carpenter in the old town, said but for God’s intervention, more lives would have been lost.
The explosion, according to him, had occurred right in front of his carpentry shop, but he managed to escape. Unfortunately, his wife who used a different escape route was hit by one of the metals from the flames which pierced her thigh. Currently, she is receiving treatment at the hospital.
Another resident, Madam Ama Adoma, a trader, lost her 21-year-old son. “I was asleep when my son rushed into the room and warned that we should not come out and that something serious had happened to the community.”
“I became alarmed and rushed out of the room and saw dark smoke all over as the entire community was on fire. I rushed inside, pulled my old lady who was then sleeping and we started running towards the bush.”
Madam Ama Adoma lost her 21-year-old son
Madam Adoma said they managed to enter the bush before the explosion and stayed there until the next day.
“I thought after my son came to wake us up to be on the alert, he had run to safety, but unfortunately he went back to the street to catch a glimpse and was caught up in the explosion,” she said with tears freely rolling down her eyes.
“I am a mother of six and the younger ones had left for school in the neighbouring communities. When we returned to the village the following day, our building and all other buildings in the community – shops, churches were gone.”
Auntie Mansa, a woman who returned to the community only to see her shop full of provisions empty, burst into tears saying some townsfolk ransacked her shop and sales.
Her son also sustained a severe injury but was fortunate to have been treated after a prolonged period of unconsciousness.
“Now my stock is all gone. I had taken a loan from the bank to run my business. Now all my savings are gone.”
In search of missing gold
Earlier, this reporter spotted a young woman busily combing through the wreckage and it was evident that she was looking for her personal belongings.
Initially, she was reluctant to talk but later opened up to say she was looking for her piece of gold and some monies she kept in the house before the disaster.
After combing through the wreckage for several hours in search of her gold and money, 28-year-old artisanal miner, Mary Akosua found this bottle of beer which she gulped to “cool down”
Although she couldn’t find the gold, she saw a bottle of beer which she believes was from her brother’s shop near her house, “If I can’t find my gold worth about ¢3,000 and I see a bottle of beer, let me drink it like that,” she said jokingly.