The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Henry Kokofu, has emphasized that there will be a significant strengthening of monitoring and enforcement measures moving forward.
This is in response to the tragic explosion at a quarry site in Anto-Aboso, Western Region, which claimed the lives of five individuals and caused multiple injuries on September 10, 2023.
Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a three-member committee whose primary task is to assess and revamp the agency’s monitoring and enforcement strategy.
Additionally, it has come to light that the quarry in question was operating without the necessary authorization, as confirmed by the Minerals Commission.
The Commission’s mine inspectors had observed that the company was conducting nighttime operations, seemingly to evade detection by Commission inspectors and the local task force, which included police and members of the Sand Winners and Quarry Association.
Following the tragic quarry explosion in Kobina-Andokrom, which claimed the lives of five individuals on Saturday night, the Western Regional Security Council (WSRC) established a 9-member committee on September 11 to investigate the incident’s cause.