Mr. George Diawuo, the Western Regional Head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been transferred from the region.

This comes days after an explosion killed five people and left three others unaccounted for at Anto-Aboso explosion in the Shama District.

However, it is unclear if the quarry tragedy has anything to do with Mr. Diawuo’s transfer.

In a swift response after the explosion, the Minerals Commission reportedly rescheduled several regional leaders.

The Minerals Commission disclosed that the quarry that experienced a devasting explosion on Sunday, September 10, 2023, was operating illegally.

According to the Commission, its mine inspectors had noticed that the company was conducting nighttime operations, presumably to avoid detection by Commission inspectors and the local task force, which included police and members of the Sand Winners and Quarry Association.

During a routine monitoring visit by inspectors from the Takoradi Office of the Commission, it was revealed that the company was engaged in site cleaning and preparatory work and had operated machinery and equipment on-site without obtaining the Commission’s approval.

The Commission acknowledged in a statement that their preliminary investigations had established that a business by the name of STA Addsams Enterprise had submitted a request for the explosion site.