Jesse Kazapoe, Head of the White Volta Basin at the Water Resources Commission (WRC), has drawn attention to the adverse effects of human activities on the accessibility of clean water to households across Ghana. According to Mr. Kazapoe, the country has made strides over the years to improve the standards and supply of potable drinking water.
However, he mentioned various factors, including illegal mining, logging, sand winning, and pollution from liquid and solid waste, as significant contributors to the degradation of water quality and availability in the country.
“Even though we are doing our best to provide our people with water, we are the same people who are putting in the same efforts to erode these gains. So it will be difficult for us to say we are making gains when we are at the back and eroding the same gains,” he lamented.
The Head of the White Volta Basin at the Water Resources Commission (WRC) pointed out that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, has emerged as a major threat to water resources in Ghana, particularly in river basins like the White Volta.
He said the indiscriminate mining activities have led to the contamination of water bodies with toxic chemicals such as mercury and cyanide, rendering the water unsafe for consumption and other domestic uses.
Mr. Kazapoe, who was speaking to A1 Radio in commemoration of World Water Day, said his outfit has been collaborating with the Environmental Protection Agency, Minerals Commission, the Ghana Landscape Restoration, and Small-Scale Mining Project to identify and support artisanal small-scale miners with improved ways of extracting gold without using cyanide or mercury.
He emphasized the need for concerted efforts from government agencies, local authorities, communities, and other stakeholders to address the underlying causes of water pollution and degradation.
Mr. Kazapoe called for stricter enforcement of regulations, increased public awareness, and investment in sustainable water management practices to safeguard water resources for present and future generations.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah|Bolgatanga|Ghana
