A mercury free mining method has been introduced in the Western Region to reduce the growing level of pollution of water bodies and the soil in mining communities in Ghana.
The new mining method has been introduced primarily to improve activities of small scale miners, who appear to rely heavily on mercury chemical to wash minerals particularly gold.
The Chief Executive Officer of Commodity Monitor, Stephen Yeboah,
who introduced the new mining scheme says, soil and water bodies in the country would be saved from these mercury pollution in virtually all mining areas especially those that would readily adopt the new technology driven machine for extraction of gold.
The use of mercury in extraction of gold is very common in mining areas in Ghana, and in Western Region in particular water bodies and the soil have been contaminated due to the use of Mercury.
The chemical, often traps the minerals during the washing stage, but much of the chemical content is abandon in the water and consequently in the soil following the extraction of the mineral.
A negative development with rippling effect on the health of people working and living in mining areas.
For instance, inhaling mercury vapour is considered most dangerous, and those that manipulate the mercury directly in the process of the gold extraction, especially by burning mercury, are considered most at risk.
Through the use of these mercury contaminated soil and water for livestock and crops, mercury can also enter the food chain being consumed by the public.
The Chief Executive Officer of Commodity Monitor Stephen Yeboah believes this should not be allowed to continue in the country hence the introduction of the new mining machines for extraction of gold without the use of mercury
He added that the new machine, once embraced or adopted, could change the face of small scale mining in the country
Joseph Sammy Bonzoh, Field Operations Officer in the mines agreed with the promoter of the new technology to improve healthy mining in the country.
On his part, a pathologist from Konfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Professor. Paul Sampene Ossei expressed worry about the damage being caused to water bodies and the environment through the use of mercury in washing the minerals.
The pathologist, said the number of health cases being recorded out of the consumption of mercury content from unknown sources in the mining industry could be avoided through the application of available technology.
He lauded the initiator of the mercury free gold washing machine for thinking outside the box to improve the country’s mining industry.
By: Zambaga Rufai Saminu | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana
