Shama explosion: Anto-Aboso quarry operators will face the law – Minister

The Anto-Aboso quarry site’s operators would be held responsible to the fullest extent of the law, according to Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah.

This comes after an explosion at the site resulted in the deaths of five people, including one Chinese national.

The quarry operators, known as STA Addsams, had taken over the property from the former Omni Quarry operators, the minister informed media after seeing the location.

However, it was discovered that STA Addsams was not qualified to conduct quarry operations since the necessary licensing procedures had not been completed.

This information runs counter to what the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said. Despite this discrepancy, the regional minister gave the operators the assurance that they would be held legally accountable for their activities, particularly in light of the calamity that transpired at the site.

The importance of regulatory compliance in quarry activities in the area is highlighted by the minister’s dedication to preserving the law.

Since the explosion, which also damaged other settlements in the Shama District, many residents have been frightened and are now calculating their losses.

On Saturday, September 9, about 11 p.m., the explosion reportedly took place at the Omni Quarry location, according to witnesses.

Although the cause of the explosion has not yet been determined, bodies of several workers who were present at the scene have been discovered lying about.

Due to the fragmentary form of some of the remains, the identities of some of the Chinese nationals are unknown; however, the deaths of three Ghanaians have been verified.

Since then, police, firefighters, and members of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) have arrived on the scene.