By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Regulators and mining firms must learn from the outcome of investigations into the ‘Apeatse Explosion’ to forestall future occurrence, Chris Griffith, CEO of Gold Fields Limited, has said.
Describing the explosion as a “tragic accident,” he said regulators of the mining sector must use the outcome to improve certain areas of the regulatory regime to enhance safety.
Mr Griffith, who was addressing journalists at a media engagement session in Accra on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, said mining companies must also use the outcome of the inquiry to improve internal safety standards.
“Even before we know the outcomes of the investigation, we will be looking at our own standards to ensure that we are compliant to whatever regulations are in place and to make sure that we do the very best we can until such time that we get the answers,” he said.
Mr Griffith said the mining companies would work collectively with the Government to come out with remedial actions to forestall the recurrence of such tragic explosions.
Fourteen people were killed and more than 170 injured in the explosion, which occurred on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at Appiatse in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality.
Preliminary investigations by the Police had indicated that a truck carrying explosives to the Chirano Gold Mine, about 140km away from Appiatse collided with a tricycle at the Apeatse section of the Bogoso-Kumasi highway.
Source: GNA
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