It is a truly sad, unfortunate and tragic incident: Akufo Addo reacts to Bogoso gas explosion has left many dead
The government of Ghana after interdicting the CEO of Maxam Company Limited after their mining explosives being conveyed to their site exploded following a collision with a motorbike in Apiate in the Western Region of Ghana has fined them $6million.
On 20 January 2022, the township of Apiate was torn apart after a truck transporting mining explosives collided with a motorcycle along the Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri road.
The explosion leveled the nearby Apiate village, where 13 people were confirmed dead, and an additional 59 people injured.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor in Accra made this known in a statement released after reviewing the incident that has now caused the village to be unhabitable.
In a press statement, the Minister made it known that Maxam Company has accepted to pay the huge fine as it looks to collaborate with the government to pay the said amount.
The amount is made up of $1 million fine and $5 million, which the company agreed with the Ministry, after extensive discussions, to pay to the government.
The fine was imposed following a report by a three-member committee constituted by the Minister to undertake independent investigations into the unfortunate incident.
According to the report, there were some regulatory breaches on the part of the company, in the manufacture, storage, and transportation of explosives for mining and other civil works.
The Statement said the Minister imposed the hefty fine due to the nature and the totality of the circumstance leading to this tragic incident.
The Minister has also set out fourteen (14) conditions to be met by the company before the restoration of its operating permit.
