The Commercial Quarry Operators Association (CoQOA) has appealed to the government to intervene to help stop the encroachment in quarry sites across the country.According to the Association, its members might be compelled to suspend quarry operations nationwide to protect lives, equip­ment, and lawful concessions from further abuse if immediate action was not taken."We will not allow encroach­ment, threats, and misinformation to erode the integrity of Ghana's quarry industry," CoQOA stated.A statement, issued by CoQOA in Accra yesterday and signed by the Executive Secretary, Ms Georgina Dziwornu, said ille­gal human settlements had rapidly expanded into designated quarry buffer zones, including Buoho, Ablekuma, Nsawam, and Budum­buram.CoQOA expressed concern over what it described as blatant violations of Regulation 176 of the Minerals and Mining (Ex­plosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177), which mandates a mini­mum 500-metre safety buffer be­tween blasting sites and residential structures."Structures have been erected within 10 to 20 metres of active blasting zones.

This is not only illegal but extremely dangerous," the statement read. These violations the Associ­ation said did not only endanger lives, but also restricted the ability of compliant quarry companies to operate safely, despite adherence to District Assembly-approved development schemes and envi­ronmental regulations threats to public safety, national develop­ment, and the sustainability of the quarry industry.It then called on regulatory institutions, including the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Minerals Commission, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Ministry of Environment, Sci­ence, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Environmental Protec­tion Agency (EPA) to act swiftly to stop the danger.Furthermore, the Association appealed to media practitioners to exercise caution and profession­alism in their reporting, urging them to avoid sensationalism and focus on balanced, and fact-based journalism.The statement called for immediate demolition of all unauthorised structures within protected buffer zones in accor­dance with the local government Act, 2016, Act 936; prosecute individuals and officials involved in the unlawful sale and occupa­tion of quarry lands.Moreover, the Association called for the disconnection of all public utility services (water, electricity) supplied to illegal set­tlers; expedited legal action on all pending encroachment-relat­ed cases before the courts; and formal government recognition of CoQOA as a strategic partner in safeguarding quarry zones and ensuring regulatory compliance nationwide."CoQOA remains commit­ted to responsible, safe, and environmentally sound quarry operations that support Ghana's growth.

But we will not stand idle while encroachment and misinformation threaten the very survival of our industry and the safety of our workers and communities.

The time for action is now," the statement emphasised.BY TIMES REPORTER