Formulate policy on mining waste products-Nyarku

Kwabenya, Dec. 29, GNA - A Research Fellow at the Ghana Atomic Energy commission has advocated a government policy on management of waste from mineral mining.

Mr B.J.B Nyarko said to make the policy work, there ought to be a legal backing to ensure that waste from mining activities such as gold ore processing was not dumped into rivers, springs, lakes and other water bodies.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Kwabenya, Mr Nyarko said mining companies should be made to conduct periodic monitoring on their own to check environmental degradation that might result from their operations.

He said if that was not done, it would be difficult for environmental authorities to check the pollution of water bodies with mercury, arsenal and chromium and other toxic elements.

He blamed 'galamsey' operators for polluting the environment through heating and washing of ore with mercury.

Mr Nyarko reminded the public that mercury was volatile and dangerous to human health when inhaled and all efforts should be made to control its usage.