Kenyase (B/A), July 13, GNA - Mr. Isaac Osei, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has dismissed claims that a burst dam at the Ahafo mine site of Newmont Ghana Gold company destroyed farms last Friday.

"What happened was a natural occurrence and was not caused by the burst of an environmental control dam (ECD) created by the mining company as being alleged in some sections of the media", he told the Ghana News Agency.

Mr. Osei and another official of the regional office of the EPA had in the company of Mr. Agbeko K. Azumah, Communications Manager of Newmont, toured the area alleged to have been flooded.

He explained that the ECDs are meant to check pollution and sedimentation from the dam site to the external environment.

Mr Osei said a heavy downpour led to the overflow of water in one of three ECDs sited near four hamlets into the Awonsu stream and a cocoa farm "and there is evidence that no farm was destroyed. We however saw signs of flood water having passed through the area after the heavy rains".

Mr. Osei said none of the inhabitants complained of any damage to property or casualties and the water had receded, bringing life in the area back to normalcy.

He appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage and to investigate issues before publishing to allay unnecessary panic or fear among the populace.

Mr. Azumah said but for the ECDs the impact of the floodwaters would have been greater.

He said when the incident was detected "we quickly reported to the regulators to come and assess the situation and it was found there was no destruction caused to life and property".

Mr Azumah said the company was educating inhabitants in the mining area to be careful and take precautions especially during these days of heavy rains.

"Newmont is committed to working in an environmentally responsible manner to ensure the safety and well-being of its host communities", Mr. Azumah said.