2 Killed By Collapsing Mast

Two persons died, while four others escaped unhurt, when a communication mast measuring about 100 feet collapsed on a hotel in the Mpohor Wassa East District in the Western Region Monday. While one of the deceased was crushed between the walls of Adom Hill View Hotel, the other was crushed to the ground by the falling mast. The names of the deceased were given as Paul Opari and Solomon Gabby, both believed to be in their 30s, while the survivors were identified as Sabata Fradu, Bismark Antwi, Bright Fiadzo and Hanson Tokin, all employees of IPS Mast Construction which had been contracted by MTN Ghana to dismantle the mast. The victims were dismantling the communication mast when one of the cables holding the structure up gave in, sending the whole mast to the ground. When the Daily Graphic visited the scene of the incident, Opari and Gabby had been rushed to the Western Regional Hospital, where they were pronounced dead on arrival. According to a security man at the site, Alhaji Mohammed, about 7 a.m. yesterday, six people had gone to the site with equipment to dismantle the old mast. He said they started work about 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. when one of them came down to tell those operating the machine that the structure was weak. Alhaji Mohammed said just before he could end his statement, the mast came tumbling down. When contacted, the Kwesimintsim District Police Commander, DSP Ayamga Akologo, said when the incident occurred, the four who escaped unhurt and the security man at the place refused to report it until the police discovered the case themselves. He said the police were investigating to establish the owner of the mast and find out whether precautionary measures had been followed before the exercise was carried out.