Cyanide Spillage effect now felt

Huniiso (W/R), May 16, GNA - The people of Huniso and Samahuu, two communities in the catchments area of the Gold Fields Limited, are now filling the effects of cyanide spillage into their drinking water. Many people have complained that they have developed eye problems. This came to light when a team from World Bank visited some communities to assess the benefits these catchments communities have enjoyed from mining companies and the level of relationship between the companies and the catchments communities.

The team visited Samahuu, Huniso and Teberebie.

Mr Yahaha Moro, an elder of Huniso, said about four years ago Goldfields Ghana Limited Tarkwa spilled cyanide and it polluted the town's source of water supply.

He said before the company informed the community, a lot of had already consumed the water.

Mr Moro said boreholes that were sunk for the community are now faulty and access to water is not easy. He said the vibration emanating from blasting has opened cracks in their buildings and there was the need to control blasting at the mine. The assembly member for Huniso, Mr Daniel Kwarteng, mentioned clinic, primary and junior secondary schools, teachers quarters, hand dug wells fixed with pumps as some of the facilities the mine has provided the community.

He said there was the need to construct culverts on the road leading to Tarkwa/Bogoso main road and that the town has embarked on electrification but the mine has turned down its request for help to get it hooked to the national grid.

Mr Kwarteng said water in the boreholes dries up during the dry season and it was necessary to sink new one at where there could be water throughout the year.

At Samahuu, the people complained of developing Asthma owing to polluted air from the mine.

Mr. Yaw Britwum Opoku, the Senior Community Relations Officer, said 70 per cent of money voted for the mine's social responsibilities goes into education.