The Minerals Commission has confirmed that the quarry in Anto-Aboso, Shama, Western Region, which exploded on Sunday, was operating without sufficient licence.
The Commission’s mine inspectors had discovered that the firm was operating at night, likely to evade discovery by Commission inspectors and the local task team, which comprised police and Sand Winners and Quarry Association members.
During a normal monitoring visit by inspectors from the Commission’s Takoradi Office, it was discovered that the business was engaged in site cleaning and preparatory work, as well as operating machinery and equipment on-site without the Commission’s authorisation.
The Commission acknowledged in an official statement that early investigations indicated that the site of the explosion was the subject of an application by a business called STA Addsams Enterprise.
Five persons were killed in the devastating incident, and many others were injured. Night laborers, reported to be of both Chinese and Ghanaian origin, were among those killed, with several suffering serious burns.
The company’s managing director (MD) is still missing.
Survivors of the explosion were quickly transferred to hospitals around the area and Sekondi for treatment. The bomb also caused serious damage to other nearby structures, including a gasoline station and the area’s lone health post, jeopardizing the structural stability of multiple buildings.
This is the second explosion to hit the Western Region in less than two years, following a similar sad tragedy in Appeatse in January of last year.
The Minerals Commission’s complete statement is provided below.
MINERALS COMMISSION
PRESS STATEMENT
RE: EXPLOSION AT A QUARRY SITE IN ASSORKO IN THE SHAMA DISTRICT OF THE WESTERN REGION
The Western Regional Head of the Minerals Commission at Takoradi (the “Commission”) was notified by the Assemblyman of the Anto-Abosso area in the Shama District at about 11.50pm on 9th September 2023, regarding an explosion at a quarry site.
A team of Mine Inspectors from the Takoradi Office of the Commission arrived at the site of the explosion at about 6.45 am on 10th September 2023. The area of the explosion is about 1.5 km away from the nearest settlement, Kobenandohkrom.
The inspectors were joined by officials from other State institutions comprising NADMO, Environmental Protection Agency, The Ghana Fire Service, Ambulance Service, the Ghana Police Service and officials from the Shama District Assembly to inspect the site.
The Commission, after the preliminary investigations, can confirm that the site of the explosion is the subject of an application by a company with the name Sta Addsams Enterprise. The company has applied for a Restricted Mining Lease for granite commonly referred to as a quarry. The recommendation for the company to be considered for the grant of a formal lease was granted on 20th March 2023. At the time of the explosion, the company has not issued a lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Secondly, the site of the explosion is the residential facilities for the company. This included buildings and containerized structures. The inspectors also found at the site, empty drums believed to have contained diesel, other lubricants, cigarette pieces, oxy-acetylene cylinders were found at the scene.
Additionally, all the facilities including light vehicles and equipment close to the residential structures on site were destroyed and five (5) persons are confirmed dead and some injured persons were sent to various hospitals within Sekondi-Takoradi for treatment.
The administrator of the enterprise informed the inspectors that the company was working at night ostensibly to prevent them from being noticed by the inspectors of the Commission and the local task force comprising the police and members of the sand winners and quarry Association.
A routine monitoring visit by the inspectors from the Takoradi Office to the site revealed that the enterprise was engaged in site cleaning and preparatory works and had conducted run of the machines and equipment on site without the approval of the Commission.
The enterprise was therefore notified by the inspectors that such activities are illegal and was directed to cease any activity on the site until the lease is granted and all other permits and approvals for the storage, transportation and use of any substance to undertake operations are obtained.
In this regard, pending the completion of a full investigation into the cause of the explosion, the enterprise had no lease, approval or permit to undertake any activity or operation at the site.
Consequently, the activity of the enterprise was illegal. The Commission wishes to remind the media and the public that the Inspectorate Division is committed to ensuring that all quarry sites are licensed and all the requisite approvals and permits are obtained before operations are undertaken.
SIGNED
MANAGER
CORPORATE AFFAIRS
