Kumasi, Oct. 9 GNA- A disaster relief fund, set up to solicit financial and material support for the victims of the gas explosion at Asokwa in Kumasi, was on Tuesday launched in Kumasi.

The fund, which is an initiative of the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Mr Maxwell Kofi Dwumah, is aimed at soliciting funds from companies, individuals and organizations to support the over 150 victims of the gas explosion, which had already claimed three lives including the owner of the station.

It is under the chairmanship of Nana Baamoah 11, Asokwahene, and it has so far received 4,000 Ghana cedis as donations from the public. Mr Dwumah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, contributed 1,000 Ghana cedis while Nana Baamoah paid 2,000 Ghana cedis.

Other contributors are Mr Asare Bediako, Asokwa constituency chairman of the NPP, 500 Ghana cedis, Ghana National Supporters Union, 200 Ghana cedis, Railway Traders Association, 200 Ghana cedis and Nana Osei Ababio, a businessman 100 Ghana cedis.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Baamoah said an Agricultural Development Bank account number 6061000008722 had been opened at the Asokwa branch of the bank to receive donations from the public.

He appealed to companies, individuals and organizations to contribute generously to support the victims.