A private legal practitioner, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, has said Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, deserves a lot of commendations for properly handling the Appiatse explosion.
According to him, the minister has justified the reason for having vibrant and energetic individuals occupying public offices.
Samoa Addo maintains that the minister has shown remarkable and exemplary leadership in dealing with the situation.
“I believe that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has really impressed me. Honestly, I’ve known Jinapor for a while and I think that he has made a very strong case for why you should have young, dynamic persons in government.”
He added “…Because I haven’t come across any minister who has administratively been able to hold persons or companies who are violating the rules and regulations in their area and this act is one that sets a very good precedent.”
…For the minister himself to administratively take that decision, I think he deserves a lot of commendation and he’ll be my minister for the year because it was such a bold and decisive decision without prejudice to the civil actions that could take place,” he noted.
Samoa Addo’s plea
He then appealed to the minister to ensure that the fine imposed on the company (Maxam) is put to good use.
“What I am begging of him (Samuel Jinapor) is to ensure that the money is used for the purpose. That is always been our problem as Ghanaians. But with the US$5 million, we beg the parasites in our system not to come close to this money. Even if we don’t get anything right in this country, for this project let’s ensure we take the scares away from the people,” he stated.
Maxam fined
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has slapped a fine of US$1 million on Maxam Company Limited, the company at the centre of last month’s explosion at Appiatse in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region.
The fine came barely a week after the committee tasked to investigate the explosion submitted its report to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor.
The company has agreed to pay an additional US$5 million over a period of time to the government of Ghana.
At least 900 persons have so far been displaced and 13 confirmed dead, according to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
A statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday (8 February) said the minister imposed the hefty fine due to the “nature and the totality of the circumstance leading to this tragic incident”.
Source: Asaase Radio