The Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, says government will not shield anyone found culpable of negligence leading to the explosion at Apeatse near Bogoso in the Western Region.

According to him, government will ensure it punishes anyone whose negligence may have led to the accident.

“Let’s wait for the outcome of the investigation but if like you say [regulatory failure] turns out that way people have to answer for their commissions and omissions.

"A big if, it’s that straightforward. Because all of us have our respective responsibilities and duties to perform and if at any stage it is found that any one of us hasn’t performed our duties correctly and it occasioned this kind of loss, I believe that the honorable thing to do is for us to pay the ramifications of our action and that I believe will not be difficult to insist on at all,” he said.

The disastrous accident at Apeatse involved a DAF vehicle with registration number WR 2252-18 transporting explosives from the Maxam Company, Tarkwa, to Chirano Gold Mines and a motorcycle.

The Police stated that the rider of the motorcycle from the opposite direction, rode under the vehicle at around 11:25 pmon Thursday.

According to the Police, due to the impact of the crash, the motorcycle caught fire and ignited the explosives on the DAF van. The DAF vehicle, thus burst into flames.

Consequently, 13 people are reported to have died with 57 severely injured while nearby buildings of about 500 houses were razed down.

Commenting on the situation, the Lands Minister assured that government is on course to provide relief to the victims of the explosion as well the displaced.

“The focus of government now are in two folds. The first is to provide some relief and I know that NADMO is been working overnight to be able to send some relief to the displaced people and also care for the injured,” he said.

He added that government is also working hand-in-hand with some security agencies and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources working through the MIneral Division "to assemble the initial facts so we get understand what caused this (explosion), under what circumstances did this accident occur.”

According to him, when the outcome is made known, broader inquiry will be formed to take it up.