Mining explosives manufacturing company, Maxam Company Limited has been shut down following the fatal explosion at Appiatse near Bogoso in the Western Region of Ghana.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, issued the directive to pave way for further investigation. Consequently, the Minerals Commission has issued a prohibition notice to the company, barring it from undertaking any form of activity at the site.
Isaac K. Mwimbelle, Western Regional Manager of the Minerals Commission, explained that, the closure of the company was necessary and enables the Commission to take drastic measures to forestall future happenings.
Recommendations
“Based on the initial investigations that we are conducting, we find it prudent to evoke the law which states that if the inspector has any reason to believe some operation can result in further danger, then we should cause a cessation of same. We went to Maxam and asked them to stop work whiles we continue the investigations and make necessary recommendations to the CEO of the Commission for onward submission to the Minister,” he stated.
The prohibition notice, Mr Mwimbelle said, was a directive for the company not to hold any activity on the site and required to remove equipment from the site for their own safety. To ensure that the directive was enforced, the Commission has deployed two members of staff to stay at the site.
Additionally, Mr Jinapor, has directed the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of Mines with immediate effect, pending the outcome of ongoing investigations into the tragic events. He explained that, pursuant to regulations two of the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations,2012,LI 2177), the Chief Inspector of Mines was also the Chief Inspector of explosives, responsible for the supervision of the manufacture, storage, transportation and use of explosives for mining and mine support services.
