Three people have been killed, leaving three others nursing injuries in a mining community of Aboso, near Tarkwa, on Tuesday when a powerful explosion ripped through a local tailings site.
The Western Central Regional Police Command confirmed that the incident occurred at approximately noon when workers at the site allegedly alerted the owner, David Kofi Fletcher, about the presence of a large python.
In an attempt to eliminate the reptile, Mr. Fletcher reportedly arrived with a pump-action shotgun. Preliminary ballistics analysis suggests that the discharge from the weapon struck highly volatile explosive compounds that were being stored unlawfully on the property, triggering the massive blast.
The force of the explosion was fatal for the site owner, Mr. Fletcher, alongside two other labourers identified solely as Solomon and Baba.
The injured trio was swiftly transported to a nearby medical facility, where they are said to be in stable condition. The deceased have since been transferred to the Tarkwa Municipal Hospital mortuary, where post-mortem examinations are pending.
Beyond the human toll, the blast caused widespread structural damage to the immediate vicinity.
Residents reported shattered glass and broken window frames, while official assessments confirmed that at least six vehicles parked at a nearby car wash facility suffered severe damage to their windscreens and windows.
The Minerals Commission has been drawn into the investigation, working alongside police forensic teams to ascertain the origin of the explosives and how they came to be stored at the site.
In an official statement, the Police Command reiterated that the unlawful handling and storage of explosives remains a capital offence under national law and urged the public to immediately report suspicious activities to the nearest police station to avert future calamities.
