A three-member investigative committee set up to independently probe the circumstances that led to the Appiatse explosion that killed over dozen people, injured many and rendered hundreds homeless yesterday presented its report to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The committee investigated the extent to which those involved, complied or failed to comply with regulations relating to the conveyance, storage, possession, manufacture and use of explosives for mining, quarrying and civil works.
The committee was chaired by Mr Benjamin Aryee, with Mr. Peter Awuah, the Technical Director on Mines at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and Mr. Cletus Alengah, a Lawyer and Special Assistant to the Minister as members.
The presentation of the report followed an earlier preliminary report presented by the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the mining sector, following the incident.
Giving the background, the committee Chairman, Mr. Benjamin Aryee, a highly respected former Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, said, following the incident, which claimed some 13 lives, the Minerals Commission carried out its investigations, in accordance with the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), and submitted a preliminary report to the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
He added that given the complexity of the matter, the Minister set up a three-member committee to carry out independent investigations to corroborate or otherwise the report of the Minerals Commission.
According to Mr. Aryee, the Committee visited the Appiatse community and had interviews with the chiefs and people of the community including eyewitnesses.
The Committee also interviewed those who were involved in the incident including the truck driver, the police escort, the driver of the escort vehicle, among others.
It also interviewed officials of the companies involved in the transportation, including Maxam Ghana Limited, where the explosives were being transported from.
Additionally, the Committee inspected and reviewed the log books of Maxam and the various police stations.
Mr. Aryee thanked the Minister for the opportunity to serve and said he believes that, with the information gathered by the Committee, and the documents reviewed, the Report fairly represents the facts leading to the incident.
He said the Committee, based on those facts, has made some recommendations for the consideration of the Minister.
Receiving the Report, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister thanked the members of the Committee for the effort they put in to get the Report ready within a short period.
He said he will review the Report as soon as possible, and implement the necessary recommendations, once satisfied.
The Minister noted that the Terms of Reference of the Committee was limited to compliance with mining regulations.
Mr Abu Jinapor stressed that the investigations and the Report, are without prejudice to any criminal culpability that may arise from the investigations being undertaken by the security agencies, nor does it constitute a bar to any civil liability that may arise.
He expressed confidence in the security services to carry out criminal investigations and take appropriate actions.
Mr. Jinapor also said in addition to rebuilding the community, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is committed to ensuring that anyone found culpable is made to face the full rigours of the law.
He assured that Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, will take immediate action on the Report.
