IPNEWS: Koima Weyaja Town, Tawer District- Residents across more than six communities along the Mavor Creek in Grand Cape Mount County are confronting a severe drinking water crisis. They alleged that the Bea Mountain Mining Company has polluted their water source again.
โThe situation echoed prior incidents in 2016 and 2022 when residents of Jinkoder faced similar contamination and relocation fears.
Eyewitnesses say the pollution has triggered a major fish die-off in the Mavor Creek and Mafa River, with aquatic life perishing due to alleged chemical waste, including cyanide, allegedly released by the mining company.
โThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed fish mortality events following investigations and has advised residents to avoid the water.
โโWe need safe drinking water and food items,โ said Mohammed Feakai, the Town Chief of Koima Weyaja, speaking to journalists on May 24 and appealing for government intervention and humanitarian aid. โWe have suffered a lot for safe drinking water and even fish to eat since 2022.โ
โMohammed said, โThe chemical waste polluted our water. Bea Mountain used to give us food and items, but it has been over 4 years now and we have not received food items,โ but he said that they sometimes give us only 8 bags of rice, which is of no help to the community.
He also disclosed that the company built a hand pump 4 years ago in the bush, but he said, โit cannot serve the community and it cannot give us fish either. We used to use our water for fishing, cooking, washing our clothes, and drinking, but because of the chemical pollution, we no longer use it, and the company is not giving us anything for survival.โ
โTown Chief Boima Passeway, reflecting on Jinkoderโs relocation and current conditions downstream of the Marvoe and Mafa rivers, questioned what will happen to other communities still living downstream: โEven though Jinkoder has been removed due to the same chemical pollution, there are still other communities living downstream of the Marvoe and Mafa rivers. What will happen to them?โ
โThe affected communities include Koima Weyaja, Haygbema, Nyadohum, Kobolia, Nagbena, and Wangako, among others.
โJenneh Kamara, head of a local gardenersโ group, recalled that in 2022, over 80 gardenersโ crops were destroyed by chemical waste, and Bea Mountain did not respond.
โThe communities are seeking immediate action from the government, Bea Mountain Mining Company, and humanitarian organizations to secure safe drinking water, food, and survival support.
โThey are also calling for compensation for safety and environmental damages.
โDespite these calls, EPA laboratory results reportedly indicate that cyanide levels were within regulatory limits at sampling points and below concentrations known to cause fish mortality, underscoring a need for a thorough independent investigation.
โThe conflicting reports have intensified demands for greater transparency, ongoing monitoring, and urgent government and corporate accountability to protect the communitiesโ right to clean water and a healthy environment.
โAs the situation continues to unfold, local and international organizations are closely watching, expecting decisive action to address the crisis.
Credit: Daily Observer, Jenneh Kemokai of Grand Cape Mount County
