Apiate EXPLOSION:Chief Inspector of Mines Interdicted With Immediate Effect

Following the deadly explosion that has so far claimed at least 17 lives, the Government has interdicted the chief inspector of Mines with immediate effect.

The explosion in Apiate in the Western Region of Ghana which occurred on Thursday has left several others injured

The explosion occurred around midday on Thursday, January 20, 2022, and resulted from a collision between a truck belonging to Maxam Ghana Limited which was transporting explosives to a mining company, and a tricycle.

The impact of the collision is said to have caused the explosives to detonate, causing the vehicle to explode.

The situation was exacerbated by a nearby transformer which also exploded in the process.

A statement released by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Friday night, January 22, 2022 said the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A Jinapor “has, as at 21st January, 2022, directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of Mines, Kofi Adjei, with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation into the tragic events which took place at Apiate.”

The release indicated that “further, the Hon. 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, pending the outcome of investigations into this matter.”

Below is the full release :

21st JANUARY, 2022.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE

APIATE EXPLOSION
Pursuant to regulation 2 of the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), the Chief Inspector of Mines is the chief inspector of explosives, and is responsible for the supervision of the manufacture, storage, transportation, and use of explosives for mining and mine support services.
Consequently, the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel
A. Jinapor, MP, has, as at 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 Apiate.
Further, the Hon. 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, pending the outcome of investigations into this matter.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources wishes to assure the Ghanaian Public that the ongoing investigations will be thorough and comprehensive, and any public official found culpable will be made to face the full rigors of the law.

PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT