The Anto-Aboso quarry site, where a tragic explosion resulted in the loss of five lives and injuries to several others, has been officially designated as a restricted area by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
During an interview on Adom FM, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Henry Kokofu, made this announcement on Monday.
Dr. Kokofu further revealed that EPA officials have been dispatched to the site to conduct a thorough assessment of the situation.
“I have ordered the regional team to declare the site a no-go area. We are visiting the site to collect samples within a certain radius for analysis,” he said.
To avert future occurrences, Dr Kokofu announced EPA will engage the Chamber of Mines and Association of Quarries on Wednesday.
He noted that, action will be taken, adding that whoever is found culpable at the end of the investigations will not be spared.
“If it happens that there was something the EPA was supposed to do and we didn’t, we will be honest enough to come out about it. We will take the necessary steps to prevent this from happening again,” he assured.
Meanwhile, the Minerals Commission has said the operation of the Anto-Aboso quarry site was illegal.
In a statement, the Commission explained the recommendation for the company to be considered for the grant of a formal lease was granted on March 20, 2023.
But at the time of the explosion, the company, according to the Minerals Commission, had not been issued a lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.
Source: Adom Online
