On January 22 2022, Ghana shook like an earthquake stricken country. Our omen was however not an earthquake but rather an explosion. I have reported severally on the effects of mining on the country and the environment as a whole and have encouraged the government to keep sanctioning defaulters of the rules and regulations governing the mining of minerals severally, but I believe all fell on deaf ears till this explosion cleared the mud of the surface of the water. Apiate is a community of about 15,000 people in population. It is a town close to a mining field. In the early hours of the day on 22 January 2022, normal life and business were going on smoothly till and explosion from a truck carrying explosives which were supposed to be delivered to Maxam (a mining company), wiped out the entire community. Reports says that the truck collided with a motor (tricycle) causing the fuel tank of the truck to light up and subsequently, the explosives going off. A huge crater was created, all houses in the town collapsed and dear God, lives were lost. It has been reported that 13 people died but that is a very big lie. The number cannot be 13 since the entire community was wiped out.

What are the regulations of moving explosives to mining sites? What could have the driver of the truck done to salvage the situation? Is it even appropriate to transport explosives through areas where people live? What was the oversight of the transport? Were the authorities aware of the transport of the explosives? What regulations were put forward before the transport even begun? I have a thousand more to ask.

In a country where the authorities only care about how to milk the people of money through corrupt practices, this will be the norm. This definitely won’t be the last time any like is happening because we just cannot change as Ghanaians! Maxam has been charged $5,000,000.00 as compensation for the damage caused, this money I know will end up in the pockets of the authorities, in anyway compensation for what? For killing people freely? We ought to be serious as a nation. I cannot attach images for viewer discretion, interested persons can however research about “Apiate Explosion” to watch the images and videos of the damage mining caused my dear country Ghana.

Cheers From Ghana.