Professor Richard Kwasi Amankwah, Vice Chancellor of the University of Mines and Technology, has indicated that, the university has identified a green grass that can absorb Mercury from the soil and thus help to improve on soil quality for agriculture.
He said activities of small scale miners over the years had introduced excessive chemicals into the soil and would eventually enter into the food value chain with its associated health complications over time.
Professor Amankwah at a meet the Press on the Ghana Mining Week in Takoradi in the Western Region said, the green grass according to research was able to absorb Mercury from the soil and thereby help to control Mercury transfusion into edible crops.
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The Ghana Mining Week, is an initiative of the Western Regional Minister and Ghana Gold Expo to engage stakeholders on all aspects of mining.
The week long programme would focus on ethical mining, Mining policy, making sustainable Mining a reality, Diplomatic trips and responsible Mining.
The Professor said the UMAT was prepared to support small scale mining in a more sustainable manner adding, “We are rolling out lots of interventions to support… small scale miners so that they can bounce back in a good way”.
He said studies in the Pra Basin had also led to a discovery of a three stage purification approach to use surface active agents to force unwanted particles to settle which included; metal irons in the water.
The innovation, he noted would on water quality.
The VC said, “We will soon roll out this technology…we are ready for the small scale mining terrain.”
