Gov’t interdicts Chief Inspector of Mines

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of Mines, Mr Kofi Adjei, over the Appiatse explosion.

The Minister also asked the Minerals Commission to suspend the registration process of Maxam Ghana Limited with immediate effect pending investigations to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

The Minister gave the directive in a statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra Friday night.

The deadly incident occurred last Thursday, January 20, 2022, when a truck owned by Maxam Ghana Limited conveying explosives allegedly collided with a motorcycle causing a massive explosion, which killed 13 people, injured 179 and destroyed 31 houses.

The explosion occurred along Bogoso-Bawdie road in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region.

The DAF van was moving from Tarkwa to Chirano Gold Mine.

The statement said: “Consequently, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has as of 21st January 2022, directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of Mines with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation into the tragic events which took place at Appiatse.”

“Further, the Minister has directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, with immediate effect, to suspend the registration of Maxam Company Limited with the Minerals Commission, thereby precluding the company from the manufacture, transportation, and/or supply of explosives for mining operations.”

Vice President Bawumia Friday led a government delegation to the community and commiserated with the bereaved families and the injured.

He said government would take care of the medical bills of the injured while efforts were ongoing to rehabilitate and rebuild temporary houses for those affected.

The Vice President, on behalf of Government, donated GHc200,000 to the bereaved families for their upkeep and presented assorted items, including mattresses, rice, cooking oil, and toiletries to over 300 persons displaced by the explosion.