A private legal practitioner, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, has advised the Interior minister, Ambrose Dery to resign after the deadly explosion that occurred at Bogoso-Appiatse on Thursday.
In October 2017, Dery issued a warning to the management of MAXAM, one of the world’s largest leading explosives manufacturers and technical services providers, operating in Tarkwa in the Western Region, to address shortfalls within its operations in eight weeks.
Addo said the interior minister failed in his oversight responsibilities to see to the safe transportation of mining explosives and its related activities.
Speaking on Asaase Radio’s Saturday morning news analysis and current affairs show – The Forum – on 22 January, Addo noted that the interior minister must be held accountable.
“The minister of interior issued a warning to the company two years ago to suspend work for the unsafe manner in which they were transporting explosives to be investigated. Tell me why he should still be at post.
“As for the minister of interior he should resign. If he doesn’t resign the president should use him as the first sacrificial lamb. That minister does not deserve to be at post… If you look at the law on how the explosives are supposed to be transported, the minister of mines is someway culpable,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the chief inspector of mines, Obiri Yeboah Twumasi has, however, been interdicted in a press release issued by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
The release further indicated that the registration of Maxam Company Limited has also been suspended.
Presidential commission
Addo also called for an independent presidential commission to investigate the horrific explosion.
“There must be an independent presidential commission because this is a national disaster. A town has been levelled, not to talk of the loss of lives and injuries,” he said.
Nicholas Brown
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