Newmont must pay more ....

NEWMONT MUST PAY MORE FOR THEIR SINS

*STATEMENT OF YOUTH FOR ACTION GHANA ON THE PENALTY IMPOSED ON NEWMONT AHAFO MINE FOR THE CYANIDE SPILL*

The YOUTH FOR ACTION Ghana, a Human Rights and Environmental Youth activist organization is unhappy about the minimal penalty of 7 million Ghana cedis (GH¢ 7,000,000) imposed on Newmont Ahafo mine for the cyanide spillage which occurred in October 2009. In our opinion, the Company should slapped with Hundred million Ghana Cedis (GH¢100M). The fine must actually match their offense.

There is enough evidence to show that but for the vigilance of Wacam, the communities and the media, Newmont Ahafo Mine would have succeeded in covering up the cyanide spillage.

It is now established that Newmont managed the Ahafo cyanide spillage in an unprofessional manner and also hid the spillage from Regulatory institutions like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Minerals Commission for three days which constitutes a violation of some provisions relating to the granting of environmental permits.

In addition, Newmont failed to inform the communities downstream about the cyanide spillage.

Newmont which is a US company based in Denuer, Colorado would have paid a penalty of more than ten times the penalty the company has been asked to pay in Ghana on the basis of the cover up and the irresponsible handling of all aspects f the Ahafo cyanide spillage.

In the opinion of Youth for Action Ghana, Newmont Ghana gold Limited (NGGL) deliberately violated the environmental regulations of Ghana thinking that it can get away with it.

To further Newmont’s disrespect for Ghanaian laws, Newmont is behaving as if the payment of 7 million Ghana cedis is a charity it is offering to the communities in the form of compensation when indeed it is a fine for wrong doing no matter the interpretation Newmont gives to it.

Newmont had been dishonest in its dealings with Regulatory agencies, the communities and the country as a whole.

We are proposing that Newmont Ghana Gold Limited pays $100 million as penalty in addition to criminal charges being proferred against the management of the company for violating our environmental regulations and covering up.

YAG wishes to highly commend Wacam, the community activists and the media like the Ghana News Agency and the private newspapers for the important role they played in preventing Newmont from covering up such a serious incident.

We are unhappy that the state media had not shown interest in reporting on such important issues of national interest but had been eager to report on the press release of which helped Newmont to cover up.

Youth for Action Ghana expects our media especially the state media to fight against the attempts of the mining companies to control them through many machinations.

We are happy to note that the Regulatory agencies like EPA are gradually waking up but there is more to be done.

James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr Executive Director, Youth for Action Ghana. 028 5088015