Maxam Company shut down

Following the directive by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Western Regional Inspector of Mines has, in accordance with an order from the Chief Executive Officer of Minerals Commission, shut down operations of Maxam Company Limited, the mining explosives supply company whose truck exploded and led to the disaster that hit Apeati last week.

The Minister on Friday also directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission to interdict the Chief Inspector of the mines with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations into the tragic events in the mining community.

A statement from the Ministry indicated that the directive to suspend the registration of the Maxam Company Limited with the Minerals Commission was to preclude the company from the manufacture, transportation and/or supply of explosives for mining operations, pending the outcome of investigations into the explosion.

Drastic measure

Isaac K Mwimbelle, the Western Regional Manager of the Minerals Commission, disclosed during the closure of the company that it had become necessary for his outfit to take drastic measures to forestall future happenings.

He said the shutdown of the entity was to pave way for further investigations. He said a final report would be forwarded to the head office of the Commission in Accra for onward submission to the sector Minister.

He added that the Minerals Commission had issued a prohibition notice to the company, barring it from undertaking any form of activity at its working site.

“Based on the initial investigations that we are conducting, we find it prudent to evoke the law which states that if the inspector has any reason to believe some operation can result in further danger, then we should cause a cessation of same.

“We went to Maxam and asked them to stop work while we continue the investigations and make necessary recommendations to the CEO for onward submission to the Hon. Minister.

“We issued what we called prohibition notice, which means they are not allowed to hold any activity on the site and they are to remove equipment from the site for their own safety,” he said.

Mr Mwimbelle said to ensure that the directive was enforced, the Commission had deployed two officers to stay at the site of the company.