Over 20 residents of Buoho in the Afigya Kwabre South District of the Ashanti Region have had their homes and properties damaged following a blast at a quarry company operating in the area.
The Tuesday morning blast reportedly caused damage to electronic gadgets, including television sets, in the affected households.
The affected houses are located close to the KAS Quarry Company, which has been operating in the area for years. Blasting activities from the quarry often send waves of panic and fear through the community.
Residents expressed their frustration, saying the extent of the damage caused by this latest blast makes them feel unsafe in their own homes.
“The company does its blasting activities without considering the lives here. There are people in this area and all of them were given permits by the authorities before they put up their buildings. They should let us have our peace. They blast the stones anyhow, without thinking about our safety. Aside from the blasting, their activities also result in dust, which affects our health. We confronted them some time ago on these issues,” stated Regina Pokuaa Adusei Poku, a resident at Buoho.
“Part of our structures have been damaged, and our electronic gadgets have also been destroyed following the blasting by the company. Whenever they raise the alarm before the blasting, it comes at very short notice. Sometimes, we fear for the lives of our children. They carry out their activities late into the night, and it is not always good for us, especially with children in our midst,” lamented Habiba Issah, another resident of Buoho.
“There is always panic in the area, especially when they are about to blast the stones. We no longer feel safe living here. There was a similar incident that resulted in damaging property, and the affected owners had to go to the company to ensure the company repaired the damage,” Salamatu Ali, a resident at Buoho lamented.
“There is always fear whenever the blasting is done. This is not the first time this has happened, and we continue to report this to the management of the company, but nothing is being done,” stated Sakina Ahmed, a resident at Buoho.
The Assembly Member for the Buoho Electoral Area is calling on authorities to step in and address the safety concerns raised by the community. Efforts to reach the management of KAS Products Limited for comment were unsuccessful.
There has been a long-standing dispute between quarry companies operating in the Afigya Kwabre South District and residents living within the buffer zones of these sites.
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