The Minerals Commission has begun an investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the death of six people at Newmont Ghana’s Ahafo Mill Expansion project in the Brong Ahafo Region.

The victims who were all contractor employees of Consar Limited were reported to have died after a reclaim tunnel roof of the Mines tunnel collapsed on Saturday.

Operations have since been suspended and police are said to be at the accident site.

The Regional Senior Vice President Newmont Africa Alvin Pretorius told Joy News operations will be closed until such a time that they are satisfied the right measures have been put in place.

Lands and Natural Resources Minister John Peter Amewu who was at the site to ascertain the extent of damage and commiserate with the bereaved families.

Related: 6 dead, others injured in Newmont Ahafo tunnel collapse

He told Joy News earlier that although Newmont generally has a good safety record anyone found culpable following the investigation will be made to face the law.

"We will find out if it is the fault of the sub-contractor, workers or Newmont Ghana, all these will be established," he said.

According to him, it is early days yet to blame the company's safety procedures as mining companies in the country have "very good safety records." 

Joy News Ernest Kojo Manu who visited the site Sunday said Newmont Ghana as well as officers of the Ghana Mineral Commission have been briefing the Minister. 

According to the reporter, operations have been shut down except for essential services.  

So far, two of the bodies which were trapped in the tunnel have been recovered and sent to the Hwedimu Government Hospital. The other two workers who sustained various degrees of injuries were on Sunday morning recalled for re-examination.

The Acting General Manager of Newmont, Yaw Okyere Ntramah told Joy News the two are in good health. 

"The area has been cordoned off to allow police and Minerals Commission to get to work and not disturb the scene of the incident," he added.  

"We will continue to offer support to the Consar employees and we are in collaboration with them to ensure that this investigation is properly conducted," he said.

The Principal Ashanti Regional Inspector of Mines is in charge of the investigation.