Wassa community complains about cyanide spillage

Accra, Dec. 1, GNA - The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) on Wednesday said several people in the Bogoso community have developed various health related problems due to cyanide spillage into water bodies in the area by the Bogoso Gold Limited, which occurred on October 23, this year.

Mr Daniel Owusu-Koranteng, Executive Director, WACAM said about 35 people have been identified with health problems, 15 suffering from various ailments by drinking and eating fish contaminated by the cyanide spillage.

At a press conference in Accra, Mr Owusu-Koranteng said cyanide spillages were indicative of irresponsible mining practices and failure of environmental management system of a mining company.

"We condemn such irresponsible mining practices because of the huge legacies that they live for the communities in particular and the country in general after mine closure," he said.

Mr Owusu Koranteng said vital natural resources like water and a clean environment were being lost because of such bad mining practices, adding "These are violations of peoples' constitutional right to a clean and healthy environment and such practices are not in tune with sustainable development".

WACAM's Executive Director demanded that the Environmental Protection Agency made the final report on the recent cyanide spillage of the Bogoso Gold Limited available to the public.