Apiate explosion: Ghana’s Chief Inspector of Mines interdicted, company involved ‘suspended’

Ghana’s Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinpor has ordered the interdiction of the Chief Inspector of Mines in relation to the deadly explosion at Apiate in the Western Region.

A Jan 21 statement also directed that the license of a trucking company involved in the transporting of mine explosives be suspended.

The interdiction order is with immediate effect, “pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation into the tragic events that took place at Apiate,” the statement noted.

The suspension of Maxam’s registration according to the statement precludes them from the, “manufacture, transportation and/or supply of explosives for mining operations, pending the outcome of investigations into this matter.”

Both orders are to be executed by Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission.

According to the Ghana Police Service’ situational report, the accident of January 20, 2022, happened around 1:25 pm at Apiate, a town close to Bogoso.

Specifically, it involved a DAF vehicle with registration number WR 2252-18 transporting explosives from the MAXAM Company, Tarkwa, to Chirano Gold Mines and a motorcycle.

The impact of the motorcycle ramming into the truck caused a fire that ignited explosives on the DAF van causing it to burst into flames.

At least 17 persons have reportedly lost their lives with several others injured and hospitalized due to the explosion in Apiate in the Western Region of Ghana.

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.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK