An explosion at the Omni Quarry site in Anto Aboso in Ghana's Western Region has left many injured and some feared dead. The explosion occurred at around 10:30 pm on Saturday September 9, 2023.
Both Ghanaian nationals and Chinese workers were hurt in the blast, which destroyed offices and workers' apartments on the quarry site. Excavators, trucks and other equipment were burnt beyond repair. Nearby oil palm plantations, cassava, rice and maize farms were also damaged.
An anonymous staff member told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the incident happened when ammonium nitrate used for blasting rocks at the quarry came into contact with what was suspected to be a fire.
He said, "At around 10:30 pm on Saturday, we heard the sound of an explosion from the quarry site, like an earthquake. It was unusual, so we rushed to the site and found the whole place had exploded. So far, I've seen five Chinese owners of the site and three other Ghanaians who I suspect are dead."
When reporters visited the scene on Sunday, they saw police had cordoned off the area for security. The police were unwilling to provide details.
Local assemblyman Percy Ahenakwah said, "All we heard was a serious earthquake, which traveled from Anto to Daboase Junction and other communities. We later realized it was an ammonium blast from the quarry."
This is the second deadly explosion in two years in Ghana's Western Region. In January 2022, 16 people died with many injured when an explosive-laden vehicle collided with a motorbike, wiping out a whole community. The recent Anto Aboso blast shows the dangers posed by inadequate safety precautions at worksites using dangerous chemicals and explosives. The Ghanaian authorities must investigate the cause of this problem and ensure proper safety standards are enforced to avoid such tragedies in future.
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