Independent Committee to investigate cyanide spillage

The government has set up an independent investigative committee to establish the cause and extent of the cyanide contamination in the Huni and Asuman rivers near Tarkwa in the Western region.

Membership of the committee is made up of representatives from the Department of Environmental Science of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the Department of Chemistry/Biochemistry of the University of Ghana and the Institute of Mining, Tarkwa School of Mines.

The rest are the Ministry of Health, Ghana Standards Board, a Social Scientist and a lawyer. Professor Dominic K. Fobih, Minister of Environment and Science, said this at a meeting with some environmental NGOs and newsmen to clarify the issues arising out of the cyanide spillage from Goldfields mines that polluted the two rivers.

He said the committee would identify measures to prevent such contamination in future and prepare strategic guidelines for the safe management of mining waste disposal, among other things.

Last month, wastewater contaminated with cyanide spilled into the two rivers, killing a number of living organisms in the water bodies.

The mining company claimed that the spillage was accidental and explained that the death of fishes and other organisms was due to detoxification and other measures taken to offset the impact of the cyanide.

Prof. Fobih said the committee, which has six weeks to complete its task, would submit an in-depth report and recommendations.

Mr. Jonathan Allotey, Acting Chief Executive of Environmental Protection Agency, appealed to the public to give out information freely to enable the committee to complete its work on schedule.