Golden Star Resources (GSR) is a Canadian-registered mining company with headquarters in the United States. It owns 90 percent interest in the Bogoso/Prestea Gold Mine operated by Bogoso Gold Limited (BGL) and the Wassa Gold Project operated by Wexford Gold Limited (WGL). The government of Ghana holds the remaining 10 percent interest in both mines. GSR is a member of the World Gold Council (WGC), an international association of 23 gold mining companies. To ensure that gold mining companies continue to reap profits from gold production, the WGC spends millions of dollars each year promoting gold consumption.

Local communities contend that GSR operations are contributing to serious human rights and environmental problems and making their communities uninhabitable. In August 2005, communities impacted by GSR united as the Concerned Citizens of Prestea to voice their complaints and concerns. In a public statement, they noted some of their chief concerns: cyanide spills, excessive noise and blasting, the contamination of rivers and drinking water, and the loss of livelihoods.

GSR mines have spilled cyanide into rivers twice in the past twelve months. Credit: Ghana News Agency

Cyanide spills and water pollution
On October 23, 2004, a tailings dam of BGL spilled cyanide into Apepra Stream, a tributary of River Ankobra, which is the drinking water source for the Dumase community. Consequently hundreds of dead fish were found floating in the stream. Less than three months later, on January 11, 2005, WGL spilled cyanide into the River Kubekro, which flows into the River Pra and is a source of drinking water for communities living in and around Sekondi.

Local communities say they were not informed by BGL in a timely manner about the cyanide spill that occurred in October. Thus, many residents unknowingly drank the contaminated water and ate the fish from the polluted river. When the affected people went to the company's clinic, they say they were subjected to intimidation and insults instead of receiving medical care. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had to use state funds to secure medical care for the victims of the cyanide spillage of BGL. The Wassa Association of Communities Affected by Mining (WACAM) has called attention to the fact that this cyanide spill is a result of BGL operating a tailings containment facility for which it had not obtained an operating permit from the EPA.

Villagers are dependent on tankers of water because their own rivers and groundwater are polluted. Credit: Josh Harkinson/ Grist Magazine

One of the chief concerns of the Dumase community is that BGL operations have polluted six rivers that were a source of drinking water and fish. The borehole that the company constructed to provide an alternative drinking water source is no longer used by the community because they find it unfit for consumption. The community has become completely dependent on the tankers of water that BGL brings, but they say even this water is not sufficient in quantity nor is it free from sediments.

Blasting, waste dumping, and loss of livelihoods
Local communities contend that BGL's operations have had a serious impact on farmers in the area. In addition to the problem of water pollution, farmers say the sulfur-dioxide emissions from BGL's ore roaster have resulted in reduced crop yields and destroyed crops such as cocoa. Although the roaster is no longer operational, farmers say that past emissions from the roaster have caused permanent damage to some farms. Some farmers in Anikoko and Bodwire Egya had to abandon their farms because of the air and water pollution they encountered.

Communities assert that Bogoso Gold Limited's operations are in such proximity to the towns of Prestea and Himan (with a population of over ten thousand people) that television sets, videos, and other appliances are routinely damaged by the impacts of blasting. Residents report that the intensity of blasting is cracking buildings and has led some to collapse. The proximity of BGL to the Prestea Government Hospital is of great concern to the community because of the blasting and the dumping of mine waste less than 30 meters from the hospital. The hospital's medical director and hospital staff have expressed their concerns about the waste dump to BGL yet the waste continues to grow near the hospital.

Bogoso open-pit mine near Dumase. Credit: Josh Harkinson/Grist Magazine

Residents of Prestea and Himan state that the blasting, mine waste, and water pollution are making these communities uninhabitable. The community fears they will be left with no option but to relocate just as the farmers in Anikoko and Bodwire Egya had to abandon their farms when faced with pollution.

Violence and human rights abuse
The affected residents have tried to raise their concerns in the past but received harsh treatment. On June 13th, 2005, residents of Prestea and Human organized a peaceful demonstration to draw attention to the negative impacts resulting from the operations of Bogoso Gold Limited. According to WACAM, the leaders of the demonstration had informed the police of the demonstration as required by law and even sought out police protection for the demonstrators. The Ghana News Agency and the Ghanaian Chronicle have reported that nearly 5000 people had assembled for the demonstration when security forces fired at the group and injured seven people, including a twelve-year old boy.

WACAM also calls attention to another shooting incident that occurred a few years ago when a 21-year-old farmer from Dumase named Yaw Mensah was shot in the arm by soldiers he believes were acting on behalf of BGL.

The issues highlighted here are but a few of the problems facing communities, as noted and recorded by the Prestea Concerned Citizens Association, which represents the residents of Prestea, Himan, and Dumase. GSR has a written policy on "communicating openly with the community throughout the life of our projects with the aim of continuing to operate and develop our activities for the benefit of everyone." This action alert is a call to GSR to turn this policy into practice by taking seriously the concerns of the communities impacted by GSR and making real commitments to remedying the serious environmental, social, and human rights problems its operations have created.  It is also a call to the government of Ghana to protect the rights of the affected communities and hold GSR accountable for the destruction it has caused.