Photos: Bawumia, Other Gov't Officials Visit Gas Explosion Scene

The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and an entourage of government officials have arrived at Atomic Junction in Accra, where a huge explosion rocked on Saturday.

Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo; Minister in charge of Tertiary Education, Kwesi Yankah; and Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko were part of the entourage.

In a short address to the press, the Vice President said the government owes it to the country to move quickly with a policy to forestall a recurrence of last night's disaster.

"We are going to move to deal with it, and quickly," he said.

Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo (middle)

Boakye Agyarko, flanked by Kwesi Yankah and Gloria Akuffo

The Vice President has assured that a new safety policy will be drawn with key stakeholders like the Fire Service, National Petroleum Authority, and the Police making critical inputs.

There has been a long-standing debate about the closeness of fuel station to residential areas, however, lack of political will has meant that the issue comes up only when there is a disaster.

Saturday's explosion struck when a gas tanker was offloading its contents at a station, eye-witness accounts indicate.

The explosion happened close to the Madina Zongo Junction, a highly populated area.

Multiple explosions struck after the first one at the gas filling station, one happening close to a hostel for students of the University of Ghana, Legon.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com