WACAM slams Newmont over cyanide spillage

WACAM, a leading advocate on environmental issues has condemned Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) Ahafo mine for its cyanide spillage into the Subri River.

This was contained in a release issued by its Executive Director, Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, in Accra over the weekend.

The spillage, according to Mr. Owusu- Koranteng, was identified on the dawn of Saturday, October 10, 2009 by the community people, after finding many dead fish floating on the river.

This, according to him, had exposed the negligence of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited over its role in cyanide management.

Newmont Ghana, in a response to its cyanide spillage into the Subri River, described the incidence as a minor overflow which occurred at its processing plant, but WACAM says its (Newmont) pronouncement was to downplay the intelligence of the citizenry.

“To describe a cyanide spillage which had killed many fishes and other life forms in water bodies as a minor overflow which was contained and neutralized, clearly indicates the efforts by Newmont to mask the magnitude of the spillage, and downplay its real effects,” he noted, accusing Newmont of employing “every conceivable means, including scientific dishonesty and misinformation, to avoid taking responsibility for the consequences of the cyanide spillage.”

The affected communities, as a result of the cyanide spillage, according to WACAM, include Kantinka, Afua Serwakrom, Norbertkrom, Kyeikrom, Bronikrom, Lawyerkrom, Kwamebourkrom, and a host of other hamlets.

WACAM said the cyanide spillage had cost the aforementioned communities by depriving them of access to potable water, as well as the economic, social, recreational and cultural benefits they derive from the river.

The cyanide spillage of Newmont Ahafo mine, according to WACAM, is the 15th officially reported cyanide spillage of the current mining boom.

WACAM said though cyanide spillages have grave social, economic, environmental, and cultural and health implications, the country has no law to hold the mining companies responsible for such spillages.

“After indicting Newmont Ahafo mine of causing the cyanide spillage through negligence, the EPA cannot hold Newmont culpable, based on any law,” noted Owusu-Koranteng, adding, “It is time to incorporate the “Polluter Pays Principle” in Ghana's mining laws. The Cyanide sludge that spilled into the environment contained a lot of gold, and Ghana has lost a lot of our natural wealth through the negligence of Newmont Ahafo mine. If the spillage had occurred in Newmont's own country, which is the US, the company would have paid more than $100 million dollars as cleanup cost, in addition to compensation to the affected communities.”

WACAM, as a result of this, has therefore demanded that the government institute an investigation into the spillage, to establish the impact and the recommended penalties which should include compensation to affected communities, that there should be an independent water quality assessment to determine the extent of pollution, and Newmont should bear the cleanup cost, and that the government should undertake the review of the Minerals and Mining Act, and to include laws on cyanide spillages and the “Polluter Pays Principle” in the mining statutes.

It also demanded that Newmont apologise to the people of Ghana for polluting the water bodies within its catchment areas with cyanide, and also for making a false presentation of the issue to the public.