BGL's truck knocks down two people

A truck belonging to Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) knocked down two pedestrians at Ankobra, near Prestea at the weekend.

They were Simeon Yeboah, 25 and Kofi Atta, 31, both Galamsey operators.

While Yeboah sustained chest injury, Atta had his right hand fractured in addition to bruises.

The victims have been admitted at the Crusaders Hospital, popularly known as A.B.A Hospital at Tarkwa and are responding to treatment. Speaking to Ghana News Agency at Ankobra today, Mr Bernet Kunkyebe, safety superintendent of BGL said the type of trucks that knocked down Yeboah and Atta do not use the normal highway, owing to their size and height.

He therefore, said specially designed road has been constructed for their usage in hauling ore.

Mr Kunkyebe said, however that, periodic maintenance was carried out on the trucks and it was during one of such routine check-ups, when the accident occurred.

He said the truck hit the metal buffer made to prevent pedestrians from using the main road in its attempt to prevent colliding with an on-coming vehicle.

At this juncture, he said, the victims were leaning on the metal, when the incident occurred.

Meanwhile, Mr Ebenezer Duncan, Assemblyman for Ankobra, said communities should be informed about the movement of such trucks by beating Gong-gong or any other means of alerting the communities but BGL of late do not go by such arrangement and the trucks move at anytime, thereby posing danger to pedestrians and other road users. He said when the accident occurred, soldiers were called in to fire warning shots and this provoked the people, especially the youth, who started throwing stones at the truck.