EPA bares teeth at Golden Star Resources

…but CSO wants more action

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tasked the Golden Star Resources to backfill its Plant North Pit (PNP) before it moves to the second phase of its mining project in the Prestea and Bogoso areas in the Western Region.

The EPA warned that unless the miners backfill the PNP, the agency would not process any future applications for them.

In a letter dated September 8, 2009, the EPA stated that; "We wish to draw your attention to the fact that the North Plant Pit was permitted in 2002. However, your company has not completely fulfilled its legal obligations towards the backfilling after mining the potential reserve in the pit in November, 2007."

The statement further stated that, "the agency therefore takes a very serious view of these violations," warning "We therefore wish to state in NO UNCERTAIN terms that until the Plant North Pit is completely backfilled, rehabilitated, and approved, the agency will NOT PROCESS any application from your company."

In a sharp response, Voices of Tomorrow’s Leaders Foundation (VOTOLEAF) commended the agency for the bold steps taken to ensure that Golden Star does the right thing. It also however called on the EPA to compel Golden Star Resources, Bogoso Prestia mines to backfill all 45 mine pits it created in Prestea, Dumase, Twigyaa and Bogoso areas.

The group, a Civil Society Organization (CSO) which has been working to make Golden Star Resources responsible in their mining activities contends that this must be done before the mining company is allowed to start the second phase of their mining activities in the area.

This was contained in a letter of commendation VOTOLEAF sent to the EPA on their ordering of Golden Star to backfill the PNP.

"We wish to remind the EPA that the PNP is not the only legacy Golden Star Resources Bogoso Prestea mine wants to leave behind as it struggles to move to a second phase," VOTOLEAF's statement noted, adding that the company had created 45 mine pits in Prestea, Dumase, Twigyaa, Bogoso areas, " and we wish to call on the EPA to ensure that the company backfills all the abandoned pits, some of which have become breeding grounds for mosquitoes because they are filled with water."

VOTOLEAF has over the years been complaining about the destruction of the sources of livelihood for the people, especially the youth, in the operational areas of Golden Star Resources in the Western Region. They contend that the unemployment, pollution, destruction of rivers and a host of problems in the area are attributable to the operations of Golden Star Resources.

They also deemed it unfortunate that although the chiefs and people of Prestea foresaw the problems and resisted the establishment of the PNP of Golden Star Resources, authorities went ahead and granted the rights to the miners, "and we have been witnesses to the pain and suffering that the people of Prestea and Himan have been through as the PNP has become a symbol of pain and suffering of the people in Prestea and Himan."

VOTOLEAF expressed relief that after a long struggle of the people, hand-in-hand with groups such as WACAM and VOTOLEAF the regulators have shown that given the right support, they are able to bite.

The CSO also believes that the country has very useful lessons from the conflicts and tensions associated with PNP projects of Golden Star Resources, Bogoso Prestea Mine.

"An important lesson is that Ghana needs to have a law prohibiting mining close to human settlements to prevent the problems that the people of Prestea,Dumase and Himan have gone through." It added hat the nation also ought to listen to mining communities more than "we are doing now."

The letter which was signed by the Executive Director of VOTOLEAF, Joe Emmanuel Nkrumah also called on the EPA to assert its independence to be able to play its regulatory role.

By: Justice Lee Adoboe