Beposo (W/R) April 12, -GNA-Inhabitants of Beposo and its environs, in the newly created Shama District are faced with the risk of mercury and gas poisoning as a result of the activities of galamsey operators on the River Pra. These communities rely on the Pra for their source of drinking water and fishing.

A gang of galamsey operators have taken strategic positions on the river and have been carrying out their activities, resulting in the pollution of the river. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the Western Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ms. Irene Heathcote said no one had a permit to operate a mine of any sort in the Pra River and their activities were dangerous for nearby communities. She said mercury caused cancer and did not dissolve easily and as such the residue could settle and mix with the sediments in the river which fishes and lobsters also feed on and then is passed on to consumers and others who relied on the river for their water and fish.

"No one has a permit to operate in the Pra and the law enforcement agencies must assist the assembly in removing them from the river. She said mercury oxide and other chemicals used for the final extraction of the gold, was harmful; not only for those involved but for others who breathe in such gases. "The act is of concern to us and people drink, bath and eat fishes and lobsters from this river and must not be allowed to be polluted" she added.

A visit by the GNA to the township revealed that each gang made up of eight men, dug the river bed for the sand, wash it on their "floating improvised equipment". The equipment include electric generators, water pumping machines and slipper mats used for washing the gold and drums. The gangs, who were formally operating at Daboase in the Mpohor Wassa East, were chased away by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in February this year, for polluting the water intake treatment plant at Daboase. They therefore settled at Beposo and Dunkwa both in the Shama district and operate in shifts of four per each gang during the day and at night from Tuesday to Thursday. Among the communities likely to suffer from the activities of the gangs are Bukorkope, Shama beach, Atwereboanda, Bosomdo and Shama Krobo.