Newmont Ghana Limited has commissioned an independent investigation into claims by the Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) that it has spilled cyanide in and around Kenyase in the Brong Ahafo Region.
WACAM this week alleged cyanide spillage by Newmont, which it claimed has caused water pollution in communities such as Ntᴐtorᴐso, Yamfo, and Gyedu among others.
A Goaso-based journalist told 3FM Thursday that some residents he spoke to claimed they are unable to consume their farm produce and are also battling skin diseases.
“I contacted some residents and they said they can’t consume cassava, kontomire and cannot even use rain water stored.
“They were also complaining of skin diseases and before WACAM report came in, the people had been complaining about these problem for more than three years now,” the journalist reported.
Responding to the claims, Communications and External Relations Manager of Newmont Ghana Limited, Agbeko Azumah, said the health and safety of the people in the communities they operate are something the company takes serious.
“We take the health and safety of our people very seriously it is a very top priority for us at Newmont, so these allegations that are coming up we take them very seriously and are not treating them lightly.
“Somewhere in March WACAM launched a full report on some research work they had carry out in the area and we have received the report, what we have done is to commissioned some independent assessors to review the report and when they are ready we will put the report out there for the public to judge”Mr Agbeko said.
He assured that the Newmont has been working within the environmental impact statement approved by the Environmental Protection Agency.
By 3FM|3news.com|Ghana