<<Print>>

Some residents at Adjiringanor, near East Legon in Accra, have filed a petition against a gold refinery company over alleged environmental pollution.

They are complaining bitterly about the supposed ‘environmental health hazards’ in their area as a result of the alleged activities of Sahara Gold Refinery that is operating there.

The petition sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with copies to the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and other agencies was signed by about 10 landlords whose property are close to the company, located around the Carlton Loge area at Adjiringanor.

The residents claimed that the company is allegedly using mercury – a controlled substance – in refining gold, insisting that it is putting them in danger since, according to them, there are no proper sewage systems to dispose of waste.

They claimed the company in the course of production discharges a whitish liquid substance that covers the backyard of the building which is the entrances of other residents, and suspect that as a result the weeds in the affected area are not able to grow.

Apart from liquid waste, the residents also complained about excessive noise pollution which they claimed is done either in the day or in the night.

“We the residents of Adjiringanor, near East Legon, a suburb of Accra, wish to petition your esteemed institution of this health risk we are facing due to the illegality being perpetrated by a gold refinery called Sahara Royal Gold Refinery Ltd,” the petitioner said, adding “we write to formally inform your office as well as petition you to take immediate action to stop Sahara Royal Gold Refinery Ltd from operating.”

They insisted that the area where the company is operating had been earmarked as a residential area and not a commercial area and added that “the smoke emitted from its chimney is highly poisonous when we breathe and makes residents inhale poisonous gas, hence leading to coughs and sneezing.”

“From our investigations, we are aware of the fact that the said company’s license has expired and we are also very confident that no institution will grant a license for a company to operate a refinery in a residential area. We are concerned because the smoke from the said refinery keeps polluting the environment posing serious health threats to our lives and that of our children.”

The residents said “we are bringing to your notice in order for you to compel the Sahara Royal Gold Refinery Ltd to cease operations in the vicinity with immediate effect and also put a sanction on it for operating in a residential area.”