Twenty-four hours after the gory and terrible road accident on the Kintampo-Tamale road that claimed several lives, there are still conflicting reports about the exact number of people who were killed.
Police have put the death toll at 53. At about 8 p.m. local time when the accident happen, 42 were reported dead on the spot. The figure increased to over 50 without any authority source but was based on eye witness accounts. A KIA truck driver who witnessed the accident told Zaa News he saw victims being put into any available vehicle at the scene.
63 reportedly died on Thursday before midday according to reports from various news media outlets. TV3 network reported 71 dead.
The MMT Bus with registration number AS 7131 Y collided head-on with a KIA truck carrying tomatoes to the south few meters away from the Kintampo waterfalls.
Ambulances in the nearby towns of Techiman, Kintampo and other towns were not functioning according to the director of Ambulace service in the Brong Ahafo region.
Both online news portals, radio and TV stations reported different figures based on who their reporters were talking to.
Officials of the Metro Mass Transit company limited also gave contradictory statements. A conductor of the bus who gave his name only as Asaba during Zaa Radio morning show said the bus carries only 61 passengers.
Meanwhile, the company’s acting head of communications, Bernice Akologu, told the media that the bus takes 63 passengers. The exact number of people who died during the accident will perhaps come from either data from the hospitals, the police or the MMT.
Several others susta
ined various degrees of injuries. Even though police investigations are yet to establish the cause of the accident, reports suggest that the metro mass developed a brake problem that was not fixed before the accident.
Some of the survivors including an 8-year-old baby have been sent to the major hospitals in the Brong Ahafo region and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for treatment.
Madam Akologu in a statement said although the Police is investigating the matter, “MMT would also use its internal mechanisms to do in-depth investigations into the road crash. It is really a sad moment for the company as we are in a state of mourning for our late colleague and our cherished passengers. We console all bereaved families while wishing those injured speedy recovery. We have our men on the grounds to assist and also to obtain adequate information for further investigation to be carried,” the statement added.
The company further urged Ghanaians especially those who patronize their services to be calm saying, “We will continue to adopt all strategies to remain the safest, the most reliable and efficient means of transport.”