Incidents of cyanide spillage in Ghana

Abstract

Cyanide spills and exposures in the mining industry have occurred in many countries and in recent times there has been extensive publicity, with some moves towards the banning of cyanide in mining. Cyanide spills or accidental release of cyanide-bearing tailings and solutions into the environment, mostly as a result of containment failure, are usually managed by detoxifying the residual cyanide using well known methods before allowing the escape of the sludge. Ghana, a small West African gold mining country, has not been spared these unfortunate incidences. In the last decade and a half, eight incidents of cyanide spills have occurred. The most recent, in October 2001, was at Gold Fields Ghana Ltd in Tarkwa. This paper chronicles the various cyanide spills in Ghana and makes an assessment of the recent spill in Tarkwa. It is noted that the cyanide detoxification process contributed in no small measure to the adverse impact on the environment.