By Kwame Okyere Darko
GDAAR, Foundation a Ghanaian environmental NGO and advocacy group, has condemned the explosion at a quarry in Shama, in Ghana’s Western Region, which has killed at least four people and injured many more. The explosion, which occurred on Saturday night, is the second major mining disaster in Ghana in two years.
In a statement, GDAAR said that the explosion was a “tragic reminder of the dangers of mining in Ghana” and called for stronger regulations to prevent future disasters. The NGO also called for an independent investigation into the cause of the explosion.
“This is a preventable tragedy,” said GDAAR Executive Director, Joseph Bekoe. “The government must take immediate steps to strengthen regulations and ensure that the mining industry is safe for workers and for the public.”
The explosion comes just two years after a similar explosion at a mining site in Appiate, which killed 17 people and injured hundreds more. The Appiate explosion led to the government of Ghana imposing a moratorium on the transportation of explosives by road. However, the moratorium has since been lifted.
GDAAR is calling on the government to reinstate the moratorium on the transportation of explosives by road and to implement other measures to improve safety in the mining industry. The NGO is also calling for an independent investigation into the cause of the Shama explosion and for the government to hold those responsible accountable.
“We must learn from the lessons of the Appiate explosion,” said Joseph Bekoe. “We cannot afford to have another disaster like this.”
In addition to the call for stronger regulations, GDAAR also called for the following lessons to be learned from the Shama explosion:
- The importance of proper storage of explosives. The explosives at the quarry in Shama were reportedly being stored in an unstructured manner, which may have contributed to the explosion.
- The importance of safety procedures. The workers at the quarry in Shama were reportedly not following safety procedures, which may have also contributed to the explosion.
- The importance of independent investigations. The government of Ghana must conduct an independent investigation into the cause of the Shama explosion in order to ensure that lessons are learned and that future disasters are prevented.
GDAAR is also calling on the Mineral Commission, which is responsible for regulating the mining industry in Ghana, to play a more proactive role in ensuring safety. The Commission must ensure that mining companies are complying with safety regulations and that they are taking steps to prevent accidents.
“The Mineral Commission must step up its game,” said Bekoe. “They cannot afford to be complacent in the face of these preventable tragedies.”
The Shama explosion is a wake-up call for the government of Ghana and for the mining industry. It is time to take action to prevent future disasters.