The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, has instructed the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other authorities to crack down on the unauthorized sale of mining explosives.

This directive follows a devastating explosion at shops dealing in mining explosives in Odumase, near Konongo, which resulted in three fatalities and multiple injuries.

Addressing the media, Dr. Amoakohene underscored the need to curb such illegal activities to avert similar tragedies in the future.

“I have instructed the security agencies, the BNI, national security, the police, the CID, to conduct a thorough investigation, especially across the mining communities to find out if there are any other people who are selling these explosives right in in town.

“The main company, the EPA, and all the assisted agencies are expected to issue license to people who operate or who sell these explosives.

“So it is out of, I mean, lawlessness that someone would host such explosives and be selling in the household. It’s a sorry situation, but I can assure you that the security agencies would do all the investigation to make sure that we correct same and also, bring to books those who perpetrated this act.”