Environmental
Cyanide spill in Ghana's Wassa West District
Villages in Wassa West District were hit by a spillage of thousands of cubic meters of mine wastewater containing cyanide and heavy metals, contaminating the Asuman River and its tributaries.
Villages in Ghana's Wassa West District were hit by a spillage of thousands of cubic meters of mine wastewater containing cyanide and heavy metals, contaminating the River Asuman and its tributaries. The cyanide-laced waste flowed into the river and its tributaries after a tailings dam ruptured at a South African-owned mine operation, effectively decimating life forms in the river and endangering people's livelihoods. Scientists fear the cyanide and heavy metal residue from the spill could remain for decades, posing a health and environmental threat to the local communities and wildlife. The spill has led to the prohibition of fishing and the recommendation that residents avoid contact with the contaminated water.
- Status
- active
- Location
- Wassa West District, Western Region, Ghana
- Date added
- 2026-04-11 04:28 UTC
- Added by
- bodglobalapdrt
- Last updated
- Source
- Modern Ghana
- Source published dsate/time
- Not provided
- Event date/time
- 2001-10-16
- Connected threats
- Not provided