Provide counselling for teachers, students around Appiatse — GNAT

The Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) has appealed to the Ghana Education Service (GES) identify schools in adjoining communities at Appiatse, near Bogoso in the Western Region and provide the students and teachers with counselling support.

That, it said, followed the explosion that occurred in the area last Thursday morning and to ensure that the students were of sound mind to go to school.

It said GNAT had received reports from members about how the incident had affected the entire Appiatse community including school operations and triggered psychological effects on teachers and students in the area.

A statement signed by the General Secretary of GNAT, Mr Thomas Musah, said the association commiserated with the families of the victims of the explosion.

“As the leading teacher union with members also teaching in the affected and adjoining communities, we wish to expressly commend the proactiveness of the Ghana Police Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), National Fire Service and other emergency groups in seeking relief and health care for victims of the disaster,” it said.

Recommendations

It said as disaster relief efforts continued, there was the need to provide psychological healthcare support to survivors, teachers, students and residents of communities in and around the disaster.

The statement called for full investigations into the incident.