GIADEC says bauxite mining in Atewa Forest won’t affect water bodies in three key rivers

The Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation has assured that bauxite reserves in the Atewa Forest will not destruct the water bodies that source from the reserve. The three rivers, Birim, Densu and Ayensu provide drinking water to more than five million Ghanaians.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, Michael Ansah, GIADEC’s CEO said bauxite mining will not be carried out close to the three rivers and endanger the water bodies. “If you look at the map of the mining concessions, where they [the three rivers] will be, for the Birim and Ayensu, their sources will be about 10 km from the points of these mining while the Densu’s will be 15 miles away,” he said.

According to him, their mining is in line with best prevailing practices. The government has signed the Sinohydro barter deal with China in exchange of 5% of its bauxite reserves from the Atewa Forest for US$2bn which will be used for infrastructural projects across the country.

GIADEC is in charge of looking after the Ghana government’s full interest across the integrated aluminium value chain and will hold a minimum 30 percent stake in any new mine, refinery or smelter alongside private investors. The mining of the bauxite is projected to commence by 2021.

The Atewa forest is part of the Guinean Forests of West Africa which stretch from southern Guinea into eastern Sierra Leone and through Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana into western Togo.