Appiatse explosion Committee presents report to Lands Minister

The 3-member Committee tasked to look into the circumstances leading to the Explosion at Appiatse near Bogoso in the Western Region has presented its Report to the Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor.

The Ben Aryee, chaired Committee was charged to among other things, ascertain whether or not the Minerals and Mining Explosives Regulations LI 2177, section 107 and 105 were complied with by the Mining Company.

Chairman of the Committee admitted that they took more time than they were given but it was to aid them to do a good job.

“…The committee was to submit our report on Thursday (27 January) as directed by the minister. We took more time than was required of us because we wanted to do a good job. We have dispassionately looked at the facts that were presented to us which we were able to have unearthed and objectively we have put together the facts to the extent we could establish them.

“…on the basis of this, we have presented our findings and then some recommendations were made. We were able to over the period, visit the relevant stakeholders, we were able to talk to witnesses to the various incidents and through the interviews and our observations, we’ve come up with this report which we’re going to present,” he noted.

The Minister, upon receiving the Report, commended the Committee and noted that its work was not to embark on a criminal investigation or establish the criminal culpability of any persons thus did not prevent any investigative body from carrying out investigation into the Appiatse Explosion.