UCC and WRI research findings indict Newmont Ahafo mine

Kenyasi, Number two, - A research report conducted by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) indicates that the operations of Newmont Ahafo mine in the Asutifi District of Brong Ahafo has adversely impacted the lives of wowen in the mine communitiies.

According to the report, since the multi national mining company started actual mining around 2006, women had been denied access to especially potable drinking water, farmlands, and other socio-economic livelihood.

The Department of Environmental Science of UCC in collaboration with Water Research Institute and the Center for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA) conducted the report in the area within six months.

It was funded by Wacam, a non governmental organisation which works to promote responsible mining in the country.

Launching the report at Kenyasi number two, Dr Emmanuel Tenkorang, a Senior Lecturer at the UCC expressed discomfort about the delibilitating effects of mining in the lives of the local people.

He underlined the importance for traditional rulers in the area, Newmont Ahafo mine and the District Assembly to come together and device realistic interventions to address the needs of the people before something unexpected happened.

Mr Samuel Obiri, a Senior Research Scientist at the Water Research Institute observed that some water bodies in the mining communities had been polluted because of the activities of the Ahafo mine.

He said the health effects of exposure to cyanide, mercury, arsenic, lead and cadmium had serious health effect on the human body.

Mr Obiri, who is the Executive Director of the CEIA, cited that the two boreholes constructed for residents at Manu Shed had high content of acid and magnese which were very harmful.

He said most of the boreholes in the communities had been contaminated with chemicals and cotained high pH levels.