Suspected cyanide contamination in Amansie West as assembly plots remedial measures

Photo of participants of the emergency stakeholders meeting at the Amansie West District Assembly

The Amansie West District Assembly in the Ashanti Region has convened an emergency meeting of key stakeholders to develop a decisive strategy for tackling a suspected outbreak of cyanide contamination in several local water bodies.

The highly toxic substance is allegedly being smuggled into the district by foreign nationals, reportedly from Burkina Faso, for use in illegal mining activities.

Stakeholder  Assessment Plan:

The urgent meeting brought together critical entities, including the District Security Council (DISEC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), major mining companies like Asanko Gold Mines, and the Ghana National Small Scale Miners Association.

The primary outcome was the formulation of a comprehensive plan to immediately assess the situation across all potentially affected communities.

Communities currently suspected of being impacted by the cyanide contamination include Mpatuam, Manso, and Keniago, among others.

Details of the Assembly’s Response:

Speaking to the media following the high-stakes deliberation, Mr. Thomas Okrah Kwame, the District Coordinating Director and representative for the District Chief Executive (DCE), affirmed the Assembly’s commitment to treating the issue with the utmost seriousness.

Field Visits and Assessment:

A joint team comprising officials from the EPA, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and DISEC will immediately conduct field visits to the named communities to assess the scale and impact of the suspected contamination.

Wider Water Quality Testing:

Following the initial assessment in the priority areas, the Coordinating Director stated that the testing would be expanded to other communities within the district to ascertain the quality and safety of their drinking water sources.

EPA’s Warning:

During the meeting, officials from the EPA underscored the extreme danger posed by the substance.

They explained that cyanide is a highly potent poison and warned that if it comes into contact with or seeps into water bodies, it has the potential to cause the instantaneous death of both humans and animals.

Industrial Safety Protocols:

A representative from Asanko Gold Mines addressed the stakeholders, providing an educational overview of the stringent safety measures they employ in their industrial use of cyanide.

The representative detailed that after use in their operations, the cyanide residue is carefully contained and stored in a designated dam, which is subsequently emptied into safe, controlled locations in accordance with environmental protocols.

Traditional Leadership:

Serving as the Chairman for the stakeholders’ meeting, Nana Asare Frimpong, the Akyeamhene (Sub-Chief) of the Manso Nkwanta Paramount Chief, voiced his deep alarm over the developing situation and stressed the need for swift, decisive action.

Background on Smuggling and Arrests:

This emergency response follows events that occurred approximately two weeks prior, when the Ghana Police Service, supported by Immigration officers in the Amansie West District, arrested about 22 nationals from Burkina Faso.

These individuals were apprehended on suspicion of smuggling substances believed to be cyanide into the communities, stored in drums and various other receptacles.

Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/ Michael Ofosu-Afriyie, Kumasi