Editorial: Please, save our water-bodies!

Amid growing concerns about the extent of illegal mining activities around the country and how it is negatively affecting our water-bodies, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has reaffirmed government’s commitment to intensifying efforts against illegal mining.

The minister affirmed that government will soon deploy law enforcement agencies to target areas with rising illegal mining activities – with a special focus on the Central Region.

Recently, management of Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region announced that there would be challenges with water supply in Cape Coast, Elmina and surrounding communities.

The demand-supply gap is due to inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP), caused by galamsey activities. Environmental groups, civil society organisations and concerned citizens have all voiced their frustration over lack of significant progress in curbing the galamsey menace.

Indeed, the current surge in illegal mining and seeming lack of action to curtail it is both distrurbing and sad.  Is it the political climate that is allowing individuals to act with impunity, knowing that they are unlikely to face consequences?

It appears miners are exploiting this period because it’s an election year, leading to a noticeable increase in galamsey activities. Meanwhile, political leaders are hesitant to take action against illegal mining due to fears of losing voter support.

The unchecked mining operations have led to contamination of rivers, destruction of farmlands and loss of livelihoods for many Ghanaians. It goes without saying that galamsey poses a severe risk to the country – which is precisely why government must step up and take action.

The Densu River, which supplies water to dozens of upstream communities and over 1.5 million residents in Accra who rely on the Weija Dam, is under severe threat from illegal mining activities.

Miners have blocked and diverted the river’s flow, jeopardising water access for many. Eastern Regional Director-Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Addo Okyere has described the destruction as a national threat and urged immediate action to address the issue.

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