The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has directed the Minerals Commission to suspend Joceyderk Logistics Limited, the company subcontracted by Maxam Ghana Limited to undertake clearing, warehousing, and transportation of explosives.

The suspension of the registration of the company means that it has been excluded from all mining and mine support services pending investigations into the matter.

This was contained in a letter dated January 24 and signed by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, addressed to the CEO of the Minerals Commission.

“To ensure a fair and impartial investigation into the circumstances leading to the incident, you are hereby directed, in accordance with article 297 of the Constitution and regulation 27 of the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177) to suspend the registration of Joceyderk Logistics Limited with the Minerals Commission, thereby precluding the company from all mining and mine support services, pending the outcome of investigations into this matter,” part of the statement read.

The suspension follows a similar directive on Friday by the government for the Minerals Commission to shutdown Maxam Ghana Limited, pending investigations into the circumstances leading to the explosion at Apeatse.

JoyNews' checks indicate that the Western Regional Office of the Minerals Commission has, in accordance with the directive, halted all operations of Joyceyderk Logistics Limited.

Apeatse explosion

On Thursday, January 20, about 500 houses were destroyed after an explosion at Apeatse between Bogoso and Bawdie in the Western Region.

Videos circulating on social media showed the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) officials conveying what looked like human bodies out of the rubble.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Police revealed that a vehicle loaded with mining explosives, traveling from Tarkwa to Chirano mines collided with a motorcycle resulting in the explosion.

The Police stated that the rider of the motorcycle from the opposite direction collided with the vehicle at around 1:25 pm on 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.