Wayne W. Murdy, CEO
Newmont Mining Corporation
1700 Lincoln Street
Denver, CO 80203

RE: Cancel gold mining project in Ntronang forest reserve

Dear Mr. Murdy,

I strongly support a coalition of Ghanaian organizations that opposes opening Ghana's forest reserves to mining and I strongly urge you to cancel Newmont's gold mining project in the Ntronang forest reserve.

There has been a very troubling pattern of abuse by mining companies in Ghana that includes burning villages, illegal detention, rape, intimidation and dog attacks on villagers. Modern gold mining creates tailings and waste water laced with heavy metals and toxic chemicals like cyanide and arsenic. In recent years, disastrous cyanide spills have killed all life in several of Ghana's river systems and marshlands, contaminating drinking water and agricultural lands for thousands of villagers. Scientists fear the cyanide and heavy metal residue could pose a threat to the people and wildlife in these areas for decades to come.

Decades of deforestation and forest degradation have left less than two percent of your nation's native tree cover intact. These remaining savanna and moist tropical forests are recognized as globally significant for their biological diversity, including over 700 types of tropical trees. The forests provide critical habitat for many endangered species including 34 endangered plant species, 13 mammals, 23 butterflies and 8 birds. Many forest animals need large contiguous areas of habitat to maintain a viable breeding population.

Newmont should not pressure the Ghanaian government to change its laws to permit mining in forest reserves. Newmont must honor Ghana's ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and respect Ghana's protected areas by immediately canceling the gold mining project in the Ntronang forest reserve.

I will join millions of concerned citizens in the United States and worldwide in closely monitoring your actions on this vital matter.

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