IET blames state agencies for Shama explosion

The explosion at the Anto-Aboso quarry site in the Shama District of the Western Region has been attributed by the Institution of Engineering and Technology-Ghana (IET) to government agencies.

The President, Engr Henry Kwadwo Boateng, said that the organizations in charge of monitoring and oversight had failed.

He said that these organizations failed to give licenses and oversee safety at the quarry site in an interview with Adom News.

Regarding the occurrence, Engr. Boateng voiced his serious worry and emphasized the urgent necessity for accountability in similar situations.

“It was something disturbing when we heard it. Sorry to say, it worries us when someone loses their life. So our condolences to the family,” Boateng said.

He questioned why it had taken two years to process permits for the quarry site while business as usual for the corporation.

“They said they initiated a process that can allow them to get a permit, and for the past two years, I’m asking, so the work that they were doing, weren’t they doing it in a district, wasn’t it done in a region, wasn’t it done in a town, or wasn’t it on a certain king’s land? We all didn’t consider whether they had a permit or not?” he quizzed.

The IET President raised concern about the administrative procedures that ostensibly let such a catastrophe to take place.

“It’s beyond my understanding when I think about it. For someone to work for two years without being able to finish processing a permit, what was the impediment? I think the Minister, the Chief Executives, and the owner of the land even have questions to answer,” he bemoaned.

Apart from the corporation, according to Engr. Boateng, those in charge of supervision in the government must also be held accountable.

The horrific tragedy, which took five lives and injured others, has left the town with many unresolved issues as well as a lasting sense of grief and annoyance.

The explosion serves as a sobering reminder of the need for enhanced safety guidelines, more stringent supervision, and an expedited permit approval procedure to stop similar fatal situations in the future.