Takoradi, Jan 21.- GNA-The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are working to determine the level of pollution of River Pra following the alleged spillage of cyanide into River Kubekro on Tuesday.
Mr. Emmanuel Essilfie-Conduah, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in-charge of the Western and Central Regions said even though the alleged cyanide spillage is serious the health of the people would not be affected since water from the Pra is well treated before pumped for use by the public.
Mr. Essilfie-Conduah said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Takoradi on Friday on the company's reaction to the alleged incident and efforts being made to neutralised its effect on the health of hundreds of people whose main source of water comes from the river Pra.
There were reports of cyanide spillage into river Kubekro, which flows into River Pra, the main source of water for many communities in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis, including Sekondi, Takoradi, Shama, and surrounding communities.
It was caused from the operations of Wexford Ghana Limited (WGL), a subsidiary of Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) at Akyempim in the Mpohor Wassa East District.
He said the GWCL has not received any formal report from the people or officers at its treatment facility at Daboase, and added that GWCL would intensify its monitoring and testing activities to ensure that high quality water is made available for consumers. He said the GWCL would liaise with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure that environmental activities of mining companies do not affect the operations of the GWCL.
Mr. Rudolf Mensah, an Assistant Chemist with the Water Quality Assurance Unit of the GWCL said his outfit would monitor and test river bodies and all intake points of the company's dam at Daboase to ascertain the level of Cyanide levels in the water. He said depending on the contamination levels, the GWCL and the EPA would liaise and find appropriate solutions and ensure that GWCL's water is safe for public consumption.
