A 9-member Committee has been set up to investigate an explosion on Saturday, September 9, at a quarry site in Kobianokrom in the Shama District of the Western Region.
The explosion that happened at 10:40 PM sent shock waves across neighbouring communities in Shama and even the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.
Five (5) people have been confirmed dead, scores injured and many displaced.
The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah speaking to the media said the committee will be made up of the Western Regional Coordinating Council, Minerals Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Health Service, NADMO, EPA, Works Engineer in Shama, and the Assembly Member of the affected area.
“The committee will be given three weeks to provide a full report on the causes of the explosion and to look out for other causes that we will need to check in future.”
He said the committee would also establish whether the company was up to speed with their safety guidelines and licensing.
“We would also like to know where the company had the authorisation to store those explosives, and then we will expect the committee to give a recommendation to guard future occurrences.”
The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu said the explosion calls for a sober reflection on how safety issues are handled at our various workplaces and the regulator needs to also up their games to ensure lives and properties are in safe conditions.
He said the quarry company does not have a license from the EPA.
