The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated that it will probe the circumstances that led to the explosion accident at Apeatse in the Western Region that flattened the town and killed 13 on Thursday.
In a statement dated 20th January, the Ministry said mine inspectors from its Mine Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission had already hit the ground to conduct preliminary investigations into the explosion.
The Ministry indicates that the investigations be, “in line with the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I.2177).”
“The investigation will among others help the government to determine whether the regulations covering transportation of explosives were complied with and also what led to the unfortunate tragedy.
“Government is determined as indicated by the President of the Republic Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to assist a ‘return to a situation of normalcy for residents’ as quickly as practicable,” the statement said.
In a blow-by-blow account, the Ministry said the explosive truck belonged to Maxam Ghana Limited which was transporting mining explosives from the company’s magazine at Iduapriem in Tarkwa to Chirano Gold Mines Limited in the Western North Region when it collided with a motorcycle at Apeatse.
After the collision, the driver saw that a fire had sparked and began alerting bystanders to run away for their lives. However, rather than run away, people were rushing towards the scene to film on their phone cameras. That was when the truck exploded.
The detonation caused a nearby transformer to also explode according to the Ministry’s statement.
Meanwhile, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is asking the government to provide psychological care and other forms of assistance necessary to enable survivors of the explosion at Apeatse in the Western Region to recover from the trauma that the incident may have caused.
In a statement commiserating with the victims, GNAT especially mentioned students and teachers within the community who are said to have been badly affected by the explosion as urgently requiring care.
“As disaster relief efforts continue, GNAT wishes to recommend the…Provision of psychosocial healthcare support to survivors, other workers like teachers, parents, students and notable residents in communities in and around the disaster zone.”
The largest teacher union in the country also appealed to the Ghana Education Service, “to identify schools in the adjoining communities and assist them with counselling support.”