WaterAid Ghana blames illegal mining (galamsey) for severe water contamination and public health risks in Ghana. Ibrahim Musah calls for immediate government action against these practices, citing research indicating a critical decline in water quality, especially in the Upper East Region. The study highlights increasing water scarcity and its impacts on women, agricultural productivity, and public health, while experts push for environmental conservation measures and community engagement to alleviate these issues.
WaterAid Ghana is intensifying its campaign against illegal mining, known as galamsey, labeling it as a significant threat to the country’s water resources and public health. Ibrahim Musah, head of strategy, policy and campaigns at WaterAid Ghana, condemned these illegal miners as “mass murderers,” emphasizing that their actions severely pollute water sources, hampering the production of clean drinking water across the nation. He has urged the government to prosecute those involved rigorously and highlighted the struggles faced by Ghana Water Limited to supply safe water due to contamination from mining activities.
A recent study by WaterAid revealed alarming water quality degradation, particularly in the Upper East Region, including municipalities such as Nabdam and Bongo. This investigation indicated a stark decrease in both surface and groundwater resources, exacerbated by climate change, leading to significant water shortages. In fact, the Upper East is losing an estimated 8% of rainfall yearly, forcing communities to depend on unsafe water sources, which results in serious conflict and especially burdens women and girls who are responsible for water collection.
Musah noted that the time women spend fetching water has dramatically increased, limiting their participation in other economic activities. For example, in the Bongo District, the time required to collect water has increased from three to ten minutes. In addition, a large percentage of households lack access to safe drinking water during the dry season, particularly in the Nabdam District, where about 55% of homes are affected.
The scarcity of water is further straining agricultural productivity, with crops suffering from inadequate water supply and livestock facing high mortality rates. Jesse Kazapoe from the Water Resources Commission responded to these findings by advocating for aggressive afforestation initiatives to counter the impacts of climate change, indicating that erratic rainfall patterns are leading to soil erosion and reduced dam capacity.
Kazapoe urged the importance of large-scale tree planting projects to enhance soil moisture retention and improve groundwater recharge. He highlighted that without trees, the soil risks becoming desiccated, preventing effective water infiltration during the dry season and leading to further environmental degradation.
The study further revealed a significant lack of resources and technical expertise in both public and private institutions needed to implement sound climate adaptation strategies. Recommendations included rainwater management schemes, upgrades to aging water infrastructure, and community training for effective planning against climate impacts. The Nabdam District’s planning officer, Haruna Tia Alhassan, assured that these findings would inform their development plans aimed at improving community water access.
Kazapoe also urged individuals, local governments, and the entire community to prioritize environmental conservation efforts, stressing tree planting and sustainable land management as vital actions. The dire situation posed by illegal mining and climate change necessitates urgent collective action to avert a worsening water crisis in Ghana, which could ultimately threaten public health and agricultural sustainability.
Urgent action is needed to combat illegal mining’s effects on Ghana’s water resources, as emphasized by WaterAid Ghana’s Ibrahim Musah, who declared those involved as ‘mass murderers.’ Studies indicate a severe drop in water quality in the Upper East Region, significantly impacting communities and exacerbated by climate change. Advocates call for immediate government intervention, afforestation initiatives, and improved climate adaptation strategies to safeguard clean water access and environmental health.
Original Source: www.asaaseradio.com
