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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has held a public hearing at Nkroful in anticipation of the exploitation of the Bokrobo concession by Adamus Resources, a subsidiary of Endeavour Mining Corporation.

The concession, acquired in 2006 with a reserve of about 100,000 ounces of gold , is scheduled to be mined over a period of 12 months.

The company said between 2012 and 2014, illegal miners invaded the areas and depleted about 22,000 ounces constituting about 25 per cent of the reserve.

The hearing
Prior to the public hearing, the community chronicled their views which sought explanations to the impact, mitigation measures, distance and buffer zone, as well as issues of relocation, among others, and presented them to the EPA and the mining company through its opinion leaders.

 The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Manager of Adamus, Mr Kofi Edusei, said the project was the extension of the company’s  active mining areas of its operations within the Ellembelle District.

He said the operation would consist of mining, reclamation and the construction of haul roads, open pit mining activities, waste rock dump as well as ore stockpile areas.

Mr Edusei also indicated the need for a stream diversion, topsoil storage as well as sediment control structures, and added that “the excavation and loading will commence around the galamsey depleted areas and the initial material excavation will be free digging for three months”.

Improved operations
The CSR manager said with experiences from its previous operations in the communities, it had improved its operational modules by employing available best technology for this project.

Mr Edusei said the potential environmental impacts identified include surface and ground water, drill and blasting, vibration, noise, fly-rock, dust and visual impacts of the landscape.

He said as part of the company’s mitigation measure to safeguard surface and ground water, the Broma River would be diverted for about 50 metres away from the northern part of the extent of the pit.

Prior to that, he said, all legal requirements would be followed to secure a permit for the diversion and also ensure that silt in the river over two kilometres downstream would be removed to allow the free flow of the river to reduce occasional flooding of the area.

The company, Mr Edusei said, would also install two monitoring boreholes at Nkroful to monitor drawdown effects on the community wells.

To ensure air quality, noise and visual intrusion, the CSR manager said earth bunds would be constructed around the pit with the planting of fast-growing trees being planted around it.

“Our trucks would be fitted with noise mufflers and speed limits coupled with regular services and constant water bowsers on the haul roads and dump sites to reduce the dust,” he said.

The Vice-president for Sustainability of Adamus, Mr Mark Addo, commended the community and stated that the hearing marked a successful milestone which was a testament to the dedication and hard work of the chiefs and people of Nkroful.

“Their leaders and the Nzema gold Operations team will continue to work tirelessly to develop the project with all stakeholders while ensuring that the heritage of this great town is maintained for all future generations,” he said.

The acting Absuakpanyinli of Nkroful, Nana Crosby Amokwaw, commended the people for their support for the project, which was exhibited by their coming out to listen and make contributions.