Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the minister of sanitation and water resources, has urged locals in the Eastern Region who live close to the Birim River and the Oda Water Treatment Plant to stop engaging in illegal mining in order to prevent river pollution.
The minister, who was obviously not pleased that the river had turned brownish and muddy instead of being colourless, issued a dire warning: "If we do not stop protecting our water bodies, posterity will judge us."
On Tuesday, May 30, 2023, she made the decision while receiving a formal tour of the water treatment plant's input point at Oda. A few representatives from the government and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) joined Mrs. Dapaah. She spoke with buyers and sellers at the commercial drivers' market and the Oda market.
Abena Dapaa, the minister, making a point
In Ghana's most significant diamond-producing region, the Birim River runs across much of the Eastern Region and is one of the primary tributaries of the Pra River. Illegal mining operations have caused the river to deteriorate.
According to Mrs. Dapaah, illicit mining along the river's banks exacerbates erosion and can occasionally result in the soil in the mined area caving in and muddying the river.
She observed that the distance between the river and any human activity today is roughly 50 metres, emphasising that this is not the required distance for people to guarantee that any human activity is done.
Since the President has declared war on galamsey, we are here to advocate against illegal mining, and we are pleading with everyone to join us in this effort, she said.
Cost
According to her, the more pollution added to the river, the more chemicals would be required to turn it colourless, and the more customers would have to pay for clean or drinkable water.
"There won't be any decent water to treat if we don't halt the galamsey.As a result, the system would stop working, and the residents in the catchment area wouldn't have access to water, according to Mrs. Dapaah.
She said that the GWCL has begun extending pipes to neighbouring municipalities using its internally generated funds (IGF).
The stream
The project would halt as a result, and the minister said, "This is a very serious problem we are facing. We know that if we decide to desist from illegal mining, we can continue with the project."
Ambassadors
She urged business owners, truck drivers, food sellers, and the general public to join the fight against illicit mining by acting as good ambassadors for the cause and promoting awareness of the value of safeguarding water resources.
In order to safeguard the river, the minister also advised the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) to search for funding to help plant additional trees nearby.
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