Accra, May 31, GNA – Water quality analysis conducted on water bodies in Agona has revealed no trace of industrial related pollution, Ms Sherry Aryitey, Minister of Environment Science and Technology disclosed on Tuesday. She said investigations conducted by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not find any company culpable. Ms Aryitey was answering questions in Parliament, following allegation= s that water bodies in the Agona area had been polluted. The Ministry detailed the Ashanti Regional Director of the EPA to investigate the allegation. She said the team held discussions with personnel of the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Water Company Limited and Aqua Vittens Rand Limited (AVRL) and conducted water quality analysis of Betinko and Oyon rivers and the Ghana Water Company Treatment Station. “The findings of the team were that no known industrial related wate= r pollution was detected within the Agona town and its environs. “They did not find any industrial establishment or activity in the t= own that may be the cause of the alleged pollution,” she said. The Minister said the team however detected that there was serious problem with the inherent high levels of iron content in the water bodies due to the background geology and soils. Ms Aryitey said the situation had affected the quality of water for both domestic and industrial use.
She said the GWCL/AVRL has since March 8, 2011 started the treatment o= f the water sources to remove the high iron content before distribution. On measures the ministry had adopted to ensure that Golden Star Resources, Bogoso Prestea (a surface mining company) to restore the Prestea Railway Station spring water, the corporate entity covered before undertaking the mining operations, she said alternative provision had been made for constant water supply for the communities. Ms Aryitey noted that when Golden Star was located in the Huni Valley District at the Plant North Area in Prestea, the EPA requested the company to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in line with the provision of Legislative Instrument 1562 June 1999 and Ghana EIA procedures= .. She indicated that EIA was done with extensive public consultation and public hearing.
Source: GhanaWeb
