Minster tasks institutions to investigate cyanide leak at Tarkwa

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Water Research Institute (WRI) and the Water Resources Commission (WRC) were on Friday directed to carry out tests on the Asuman stream in the Tarkwa district of the Western Region to establish its quality for human consumption and usage.

Prof. Dominic Kweku Fobih, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology who gave the directive said it follows a publication by an Accra bi-weekly newspaper on pollution of the stream, which serves a number of communities in the area.

The newspaper reported in its October 22 edition that Tarkwa Goldfields Limited accidentally spilled dangerous cyanide (chemical) into the main stream serving Abekoase and Huniso villages as a result of a heavy down pour.

At a press conference held in Accra, Prof. Fobih said although he had led a team to the area to investigate the story, the EPA, WRI and the WRC need to do their independent investigations to come out with the level of pollution in the stream.

He said his team's investigation revealed that the newspaper had blown the incident out of proportion. "However, monitoring of the situation is in progress and will continue until the ministry is assured of the safety of the people."

Meanwhile, he said, Goldfields Limited is providing the affected villages with water from tankers. The minister instructed all mining companies to provide roads in their areas of operation to ensure accessibility to communities that may be affected by such incidents.

He said it was difficult for the water tanker provided by Goldfields to reach the villages. The minister also urged companies to train communities surrounding their area of operation in safety measures to minimise the extent of damage should such incidents happen.

Prof. Fobih urged mining companies to enlarge their containment areas to enhance the safety of the communities in their areas of operation. Pipes running over heaps of ore should be reinforced to ensure that accidents similar to what we have witnessed do not happen.

During a downpour on the night of October 15 to 16, rains caused the movement of rocks that hit the joint of a pipe carrying cyanide solution causing its burst. The leaked solution therefore entered drainage, which is a tributary of the Asuman Stream.