The Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) has set up a nine-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion that occurred at a quarry site at Shama near Sekondi, and the subsequent death of four workers of STA Omini, a quarry company.
The committee would be chaired by the Chief Director of the WRCC, Fred Agyemang, and would have members from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Ghana Police Service (GPS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Minerals Commission amongst others.
The explosion occurred at the quarry site leading to four persons losing their lives and others sustaining various degrees of injury. It is believed that mishandling of explosives led to the explosion at the quarry site
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko, announced this at a press conference at Shama two days after the explosion.
The Regional Minister, inaugurating the committee, said following the explosion, the WRCC deemed it necessary to set up the committee to investigate same. The committee, according to the Minister, has three weeks to present a full report on the causes of the explosion, and also to look out for other causes that needed to be checked in future.
The committee would also establish whether or not the company was up to speed with its safety guidelines, in terms of the licensing that they were supposed to have, and also to know whether the company had authorisation to store explosives.
That apart, the committee was also tasked to give recommendations to guard against a future occurrence.
The Minister indicated that he expected the committee to do whatever it takes to deliver to the satisfaction all.
Meanwhile, Sky Power FM, a local radio station in Takoradi, has reported that a cross-section of members of the Western Region branch of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) were incensed over what they described as the seemingly lackadaisical attitude of state institutions which often lead to avoidable loss of lives in the region.
“Is it not annoying that this company has been operating for months now, and the EPA and Minerals Commission have all watched on all this while? Exactly what is their purpose? These state agencies are gradually becoming a waste,” Abraham Mensah, a freelance journalist, asserted.
Nana Kumi, a journalist based at Tarkwa, also reportedly suggested that the regional head of the Minerals Commission be sacked for gross dereliction of duty.
“If indeed, the company is operating illegally, and you have watched on for this explosion to happen, then you must be sacked. The Minerals Commission in the region is not serious.”
