Shama Explosion: Anto-Aboso Quarry was operating illegally – Minerals Commission

The Minerals Commission has revealed that the Anto-Aboso quarry site in the Western Region has been operating without the essential lease or permit.

A statement from the commission said the company in charge of the quarry site lacked the requisite approvals to conduct any activity on the premises.

The statement read, “Pending a thorough investigation into the cause of the recent explosion, it has come to light that the enterprise was devoid of a lease, approval, or permit to engage in any operation at the site”.

Consequently, the Minerals Commission has categorically labeled the enterprise’s activities as illegal.

The statement by the commission comes in the wake of a tragic incident that unfolded on Saturday, September 9, at the Anto-Aboso quarry site in the Western Region.

An explosion at the Omni Quarry site resulted in the loss of five lives, including that of a Chinese national.

The explosion also had a profound impact on nearby communities in the Shama District, destroying houses and shops.

Eyewitness accounts of the incident revealed that the explosion occurred around 11 p.m., causing extensive damage at the quarry site.

While the exact cause of the explosion remains under investigation, the aftermath revealed the dismembered bodies of workers scattered across the area.

Meanwhile, the Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, has assured that the quarry operators at the site will be made to face the full rigours of the law.