Inusah Fuseini, former Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, says the nation needs a more in-depth investigation into the Apiate explosion.
This statement comes after Maxam Company Limited, the company whose mining truck was involved in the Appiate disaster, was fined 6 million dollars.
13 persons perished in a huge explosion at Apiate, a town between Bogoso and Bawdie in the Western Region on Thursday 20th January 2022.
The explosion occurred when a motorcycle collided with a vehicle carrying explosives to a mining site on Thursday, 20 January 2022.
Apart from the deaths, the explosion destroyed several domestic and commercial properties.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has revealed that the fine was reached after a three-member Committee constituted to investigate the matter came up with its findings.
“In addition to the fine, it has been agreed, after extensive discussions with Maxam that the company will pay to the Government, the cedi equivalent of five million United States dollars (US$5,000,000.00) also at the prevailing commercial rate. For the avoidance of doubt, the total amount payable by Maxam to the Government stands at six million United States dollars (US56,000,000.00) or its tech equivalent at the prevailing commercial rate,” excerpt of the statement from Samuel Abu Jinapor said.
Read Also: Apiatse explosion: MAXAM slapped with $6m fine
Speaking to host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Inusah Fuseini, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, stated that the outcome of investigations into mining accidents like that of Apiatse are meant to educate the public.
He added that it would have been important for the government to have put in pace a duly constituted body to investigate the disaster.
“It would have been important for a duly constituted body to investigate the issue so that we can learn from what happened. There are still a lot of unanswered questions. We need a more in-depth investigation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Maxam has denied breaching mining regulations but said it will comply with payment of the fine.
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