Director of Planning at the Water Resources Commission, Dr Bob Alfa, says the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) would not be able to distribute water to citizens in the next 6 months.
Speaking to the media, he stated that the activities of illegal miners also known as galamseyers are affecting the cost of treating water.
“In the short term, we will not get treated water at all, and we will have to shut down, most of the equipment will be destroyed.
“In the long term, agriculture will be affected, food security will be affected, and economic growth will suffer… It is a complete system
and our livelihood is on the line as well,” he said.
GWCL has for some time now lamented the dire impact of “galamsey” activities on the production of water. The Water Resources Commission disclosed that the volume of water that GWCL has in its possession is limited, as such, the country is already engaging external bodies for assistance.
“When we say Ghana is importing water, we often look at the physical importation, but on the face of it, that is already happening. We are importing labour and tools into our water supply mechanisms.
“Whatever we consume is produced with water and if you don’t develop your water resources, and then you import some country’s products, what you are importing is what they have done as far as their water development is concerned.”
On the other hand, managing director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Dr. Clifford Braimah has called on the government to take pragmatic measures to rescue the country’s water bodies to prevent the country from importing water.
“The cost is unbearable. We are resorting to more expensive chemicals to be able to reduce the process lost. The cost of treatment continues to go up.
“Our system is not made for wastewater, but for fresh water. If we do not take the issue of illegal mining seriously enough and address it, our systems may break down, and we may not be able to produce water for Ghanaians anymore,” he added.
Illegal mining remains a battle for the country, government in its attempt to rid the nation of the menace has launched a variety of initiatives, such as Operation
Vanguard and Operation Halt, yet illegal mining still continues.
On Friday, October 21, 2022, President Akufo-Addo placed a ban on the manufacture, distribution, and sale of Chanfangs, which is predominantly used for illegal
mining on riverbeds.
According to him, “We have increased significantly, the level of sanctions against people who engage in galamsey, today, Ghanaians who get involved will get a 15-year minimum sentence if convicted and foreigners will get as long as a 25-year imprisonment if convicted,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Meanwhile, the deputy minister in-charge of Mines at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker has stated that in order to eradicate the canker, it is necessary to look at the main cause of the issue, thus the purchase of Changfans must be examined.
“Per the law that governs the small-scale mining sector, those who are in a way mobilizing, manufacturing or assembling Changfans are not allowed in any way.”
“Obviously, when these things are being manufactured or assembled, they are not going to be used for taxi purposes, they are obviously going to put them on river bodies, so why do we allow them to manufacture them in the respective communities and then transport them to the riverside? I don’t think we need to wait for that or the finality of the process before we take an action and if we tackle from the source these struggles will be curtailed,” he added.
Source: The Independent Ghana