Abandoned goldmine spills water on Tarkwa road

Apinto Ventilation Shaft of Goldfields Ghana Limited (GFGL) Tarkwa mine has been flooded and the water is running across the Tarkwa-Bogoso main road.

The water also runs into Asuman stream that serves as a source of water supply to communities alongside the stream, including Abekoase. A report signed by the chief of Abekoase, Nana Moiobah, said following the cyanide spillage into Asuman stream in October 2001, GFGL agreed to supply potable water to Abekoase community.

''But since October 2002 GFGL has stopped supplying water to Abekoase and the borehole constructed by GFGL to serve as an alternative source of water supply has dried up.'' It said the water flowing into the Asuman stream from the abandoned ventilation shaft is said to be contaminated, hence Abekoase people have no alternative source of water supply and are compelled to drink water from unhygenic sources. Meanwhile, Mr Michael Sandow Ali, Wassa West District Officer of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has denied that the flooded water is contaminated.

He said the hydrogen iron concentration in the water is within acceptable standards set by EPA, but expressed concern about the water running across the road. He said since the underground mine was closed down in 1999, GFGL had stopped pumping out the underground water and that had caused the flooding. Mr Tim Buchanan, Environmental Manager of GFGL, said in a telephone interview with the GNA said that the underground water has nothing to do with cyanide, adding that GFGL has stopped operating the underground mine.

He said GFGL had contacted Ghana Highways Authority to construct a culvert to divert the water.