Security officials in the Ashanti Region, Kumasi, have uncovered a huge quantity of Sodium cyanide, a cancerous substance used in mining, in a residential facility.

Sodium Cyanide is widely used by small scale miners as well as illegal miners to extract gold.

However, exposure to the chemical causes cancer.

According to Accra-base Joy FM, the haul of the consignment said to be worth millions of cedis follows intelligence which led a task force to what appears to be an un-inhabited building at Maxima.

A Ghanaian and a Chinese are said to be the owners of the cyanide.

The owner of the building were the substance was discovered has been invited for questioning.

The Akufo-Addo administration has announced a six months ban on mining following the destruction of the nation’s river bodies and cocoa farms.

On Saturday, the Land and Natural Resources Ministry secure the backing of the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the fight against illegal mining and the six months ban on mining.

The youth wing of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress in region have also backed the policy.

Meanwhile, president Nana Akufo-Addo has announced a three-member cabinet committee to come up with alternative sources of livelihood for illegal miners.

According to the president, the spate of mining in the country is not sustainable, adding that it is compromising the integrity of the environment.