Chirano Gold Mines Limited has clarified that they are not directly involved in the explosion of the mining explosives at Appiatse which has claimed 17 lives and injured 59 others.
According to the company, they were neither the handlers nor transporters of the materials which caused the unfortunate incident.
Speaking in an interview monitored by ABC News, Communications Officer of the Chirano Gold Mines, Kwabena Owusu-Ampratwum however admitted that they were the recipients of the materials which were being supplied by one of their suppliers.
According to the Communications Officer, the transportation and handling of the materials are the responsibility of the suppliers and not the company.
“It wasn’t Chirano Mines that was transporting the explosives or handling the materials. It were goods that our suppliers were transporting to be supplied to us. It was one of our suppliers who was bringing the materials but unfortunately got involved in an accident. So the transportation and handling of the explosives were being done by the supplier,” Kwabena-Owusu Ampratwum explained.
Despite the clarification, he noted that Chirano Gold Mines extends their deepest condolences to the entire community. He further added that they are ready to provide support in the form of relief items to all the affected victims of the explosion despite their indirect or direct involvement in the incident.
“We only heard of the accident after it had happened. It is a big disaster hence our support whether we are directly or indirectly involved,” he noted.
He again indicated that they are ready to cooperate with the security agencies as they carry investigations into the incident.
Source: ABCNewsGh
