CEIA commends MEST for sanctioning Newmont

Cape Coast, Feb. 23, GNA - The Centre for Environmental Impact Analy= sis (CEIA), a non- governmental organization, has commended the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology for sanctioning Newmont Ghana Gold Limited after it had spilt cyanide solution into River Asundua in the Brong Ahafo Region in October last year. A statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr. Samuel Obiri, sai= d this action would serve as a

clear signal to mining companies that the nation holds the environment an= d sustainable livelihood

of its citizens in high esteem and would not tolerate irresponsible minin= g activities. It said access to clean drinking water still remains a challenge to government and its developing

partners as 40% of children in the rural areas die each year from water-borne diseases and

inadequate sanitation and hygiene. "Access to safe drinking water by every citizen is critical not on= ly to reducing poverty but also

it is a fundamental human right and also as a means of achieving the millennium development

targets for health," the statement said. It abhorred the fact that Newmont did not only pollute River Asundu= a but also other water

bodies within its concession and adopted a propagandist approach in an attempt to hide the

incident from the Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory bodies as well as residents

of the surrounding villages. The statement described the action of Newmont as irresponsible as i= t rendered water bodies in

the Ahafo Ano area unsafe for consumption. "It is against this background that the CEIA is content with the action taken by the Ministry to

sanction Newmont for violating all the relevant laws regarding storage an= d disposal of mine waste

including cyanide solution." The statement appealed to the Ministry to further impose severe penal= ty on Newmont and order

it to clean-up the affected area in view of the effect of high toxic cont= ent of mine process solution

such as arsenic, lead, cadmium and copper which could persist in the environment for a long time.