By Dominic Cudjoe
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources through the Minerals Commission has imposed additional safety requirements on MAXAM Ghana Limited, the company at the centre of the Appiatse disaster.
The measures, which are not limited to MAXAM Ghana only, will guide the transportation of explosives for the mining industry.
The explosion at Appiatse and its subsequent disaster have exposed some lapses and noncompliance with rules and regulations in the handling of explosives for the mining industry. A statement issued by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources indicated that MAXAM Ghana breached some regulations.
The Minerals Commission issued a prohibition license for the company to halt operations at its production site in Tarkwa. Government subsequently imposed administrative fines and other fines stipulated by law as punitive measures. The company accepted liability and has since made a one-million-dollar payment into the accounts of the Minerals Commission.
Government visits MAXAM Tarkwa Plant
It is in furtherance of this that a Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku-Duker and some officials of the Inspectorate Division of the Minerals Commission paid a working visit to the Tarkwa Plant of MAXAM to assess how it is scaling up its safety regime as condition precedent before it may resume operations. Mr Duker said the team is impressed with safety measures put in place.
”The fine imposed on the company was to intimidate them,” he said.
it is in line with best governance practices in the extractive industry.