A near-fatal incident at a quarry site in Buoho, Afigya Kwabre South District, has triggered fresh outrage and renewed calls for the immediate evacuation of residents illegally occupying areas designated as high-risk quarry zones.
The terrifying event occurred when an enormous stone—too massive for any human to move—broke loose and rolled downhill toward nearby houses, narrowly missing residents and properties. Witnesses described scenes of panic as terrified locals fled, initially blaming quarry operators for negligence.
However, a follow-up investigation by CTV’s Cudjoe Nana Nyarko revealed that the incident was not man-made but a natural geological occurrence.
Emmanuel Addai, Manager of Kas Products Limited, explained that the rock movement was caused by an “avalanche phenomenon,” where weakened or unstable rock formations suddenly dislodge without human interference.
He warned that the area is inherently dangerous and unsuitable for habitation. “It is very unfortunate that people still encroach on these areas, making the work of quarry operators difficult,” Mr Addai lamented. He added that these encroachments not only endanger lives but also disrupt legitimate quarry operations and cause serious financial losses.
In response to the near tragedy, Mr Addai and other leading quarry companies in the area—ADU 2 Quarry, Modern Quarry, EMS, and World Cool Quarry—have issued a joint appeal to local authorities, including the Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and relevant state agencies.
They are demanding immediate enforcement of safety regulations and the eviction of all settlers living within the restricted quarry buffer zones. The companies warn that failure to act could lead to catastrophic consequences.
“The danger is real and imminent. Unless the government steps in to clear these encroachments, the next incident could claim lives,” one quarry operator said.
Industry players argue that enforcing existing laws is the only way to protect both the public and the quarry workers who operate in these hazardous environments.
The Buoho incident, though narrowly avoiding tragedy, has reignited long-standing concerns about unregulated human settlement in quarry areas, an issue that experts say Ghana can no longer afford to ignore.
Source: Modernghana
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