No compromise in moves to curb mercury pollution – E ON 3 Group

There should be no compromises in the quest to check the creeping mercury menace in the Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) sector, the E ON 3 Group has asserted.

Consequently, the company, which has been championing an agenda for responsible mining in the country, said it is committed to pursuing a full-scale ‘no-mercury’ campaign until the battle is fully won.

The Executive Chairman of the E ON 3 Group, Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta, said in an interview that it is important for Ghanaians to see mercury pollution in mining areas as a national concern and not only for residents in mining communities.

Doctors, scientists

Making reference to findings by doctors and scientists about the health hazards of mercury, the E ON 3 Group Executive Chairman said “We cannot pretend that nothing is happening .”

“Just recently, a Consultant Pathologist at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi indicated that a case study he conducted in some galamsey- endemic areas revealed that pregnant women were dying from mercury exposure while babies also suffered physical and mental deformities.

“ This shows the devastating effects of mercury and we cannot look on while the negative acts of illegal miners take a toll on innocent people .”

Complete elimination

He said the focus should be on the complete elimination of mercury in artisanal and small-scale mining.
“ We must aim at complete elimination of mercury from the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. This is a goal we can achieve if we work together as a people,” he stated.