Rolling Boulder Sparks Panic at Buoho — Quarry Firms Warn of Looming Disaster
Fear and confusion gripped residents of Buoho in the Afigya Kwabre South District after a giant stone unexpectedly rolled downhill into a residential area near a quarry site, narrowly missing several homes and lives.
The terrifying incident, which occurred late last week, has reignited public concern about the growing encroachment of human settlements on designated quarry zones — a situation experts warn could lead to catastrophic loss of life if not urgently addressed.
Eyewitnesses say the massive rock, described as “too heavy for any human to move,” tumbled from a steep slope bordering the quarry area and came to rest just a few meters from people’s homes. Many residents, already uneasy about the quarry operations nearby, initially believed it was caused by blasting activity.
However, a follow-up investigation by Daily Guide revealed that the event was not the result of quarry work but rather a natural geological occurrence.
Mr. Emmanuel Addai, Manager of Kas Products Limited — one of the companies operating in the area — said the rolling stone was most likely triggered by a natural avalanche, a phenomenon in which rocks resting on unstable ground dislodge and cascade downhill without external force.
“This was purely a natural occurrence,” Mr. Addai explained. “Unfortunately, when people build too close to quarry zones, they expose themselves to these risks. Such areas are legally restricted for human settlement for safety reasons.”
He lamented that despite repeated warnings, many residents continue to defy safety regulations by putting up structures within prohibited zones, complicating quarry operations and exposing themselves to avoidable danger.
“It is becoming increasingly difficult for us to operate safely,” Mr. Addai said. “Encroachment not only endangers lives but also causes us huge financial losses when operations are disrupted.”
In the wake of the near-tragedy, Mr. Addai called on the Afigya Kwabre South District Assembly, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and other state agencies to act swiftly to relocate residents from the hazardous areas before disaster strikes.
Other quarry firms in the enclave — including ADU 2 Quarry, Modern Granite, ESM Quarry, and World Cool Quarry — have joined the call for urgent government intervention. They have collectively appealed to the authorities to enforce the laws governing quarry safety zones and ensure that encroachers are evacuated immediately.
The companies warn that without decisive action, another incident could occur — and next time, the outcome might be fatal.
By Asona Dehyie Kwateng
