Following the explosion that occurred at Apiatse near Bogoso last week which has made government and many industry players alarmed about the extent of damage it has caused the community and its accompanying effects, it has emerged that the Interior Ministry has long been engaged in periodic assessment on explosive companies.
It is on record that In 2017 the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery (MP) visited the company involved during his duty tour in the western region and discovered its poor operational safety measures.
He publicly condemned their operations and went ahead to order management to address all shortfalls within eight weeks in order to be eligible for a permit.
Subsequently, he ordered a joint assessment of the operations of commercial explosives companies, dealers, and users in Ghana which was done between 23rd and 30th November 2021.
In that report, the operations of Maxam were assessed including its safety measures before further decisions could be made on its operations in consultation with all the stakeholders.
It is therefore misleading that the minister did nothing about what he identified on his visit.
The sensitivity of the ministry and its activities does not promote public disclosure of all its actions. Without prejudice, this is a transportation incident, unpredictable, and could not have been related to the issues identified by the minister on his tour.
The law is clear on the remit of the ministry of interior in these matters and the role all stakeholders are supposed to play.
After the disaster, a government delegation led by the Vice President was at the scene to empathize with the community devastated by the incident.
Whiles announcing measures government would take to redevelop the community, the delegation visited the injured at the hospital.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has interdicted the chief inspector of mines and suspended the operations of the company, Maxam Ghana Limited.
This is to pave way for investigations into the matter.
So far, 13 people have been confirmed dead whiles the others are receiving treatment at the hospital.
