‘Give $5m To Apiate Fund’

President Akufo-Addo has directed that the $5 million out of the $6 million fine slapped on Maxam Ghana Limited by government should be given to the Apiate Support Fund.

The directive was contained in a release from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, and dated February 10, 2022.

The fund is earmarked for supporting the victims of the explosion which struck the town when explosives were being conveyed to a mining site by a vehicle hired by Maxam Ghana Limited.

“The directive follows an administrative fine of One Million United States Dollars imposed on Maxam Ghana Limited for regulatory breaches, following the Apiate incident which killed thirteen people and destroyed the entire community, and an agreement with the company to pay an additional amount of Five Million Unites States Dollars to Government,” the minister pointed out in the release.

By law, the one million dollars which constitutes the administrative fine, forms part of the Internally Generated Funds of the Minerals Commission, the regulator of the sector, the release went on.

Explaining further, the minister said that “the President has, therefore, directed that the additional Five Million Dollars to be paid by Maxam to Government, be donated to the Apiate Support Fund to support the reconstruction of the community.”

The Minerals Commission, in furtherance of the directive, has been ordered by the minister to ensure that the five million dollars is paid to the fund in accordance with the agreed terms of payment.

Maxam Ghana Limited has agreed to pay the fine and abide by the directives of the ministry.

By A.R. Gomda

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