The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has led a delegation to ascertain the state of affairs at Appiatse after a vehicle carrying mining explosives exploded on Thursday.
According to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, who made the announcement, the delegation will offer condolences to the victims and their relatives, as well as guarantee that relief materials are sent to them.
“We are going to concern ourselves with the relief effort and the circumstances of the injured. NADMO is already on the ground. They have been working overnight,” he said.
He also noted that the police, in collaboration with his organization, the fire service, and other organizations involved, are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the events that led to the tragedy.
“As we speak the security agencies are already on the ground, same as NADMO. Whatever investigations or interrogations and reforms that ought to be put in place will be done,” he said.
While he agreed that the use of explosives is an essential aspect of large-scale mining, he added that if the corporation is found to have violated any regulations pertaining to the shipment of explosives, it would not be excused. They will be brought to book.
“I don’t think the use of explosives for mining is the issue, but how they are handled. I think it’s early days yet, when the facts are assembled the government will take the necessary steps.
“The President, and the government, is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them, which is why the Vice President is leading the delegation. I believe in a matter of days we will be able to come to a fair conclusion of what happened,” he said.
Many people are said to have died in an explosion that happened this afternoon in Appiatse, between Bogoso and Bawdie in the Western Region.
According to preliminary investigations, “a mining explosive vehicle moving from Tarkwa to Chirano mines collided with a motorcycle, resulting in the explosion.”
So far, at least 17 people have been confirmed dead, while numerous more are being treated in hospitals.
Many people have been made homeless as a result of the disaster.
Read Also: Disaster: Explosives vehicle explodes at Apiate in Western Region
SOURCE: myjoyonline
