Hon. Kofi Ahenkorah Marfo, the Member of Parliament for Achiase and Ranking Member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Water and Sanitation, has issued a stark warning that Ghana may be forced to import water within the next five to ten years if illegal mining remains unchecked.
Speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 FM, the lawmaker highlighted the devastating impact illegal mining continues to have on national water bodies.
He emphasised that unless the government decisively addresses the crisis, the country’s primary sources of drinking water will be entirely depleted.
He further argued that the nation must set aside partisan politics to tackle “galamsey” as a national emergency, noting that a failure to do so leaves no alternative but to look beyond Ghana’s borders for water.
The MP’s remarks were prompted by a recent working visit conducted by the Committee to the Tarkwa-Nsuaem and Prestea-Huni Valley Municipal Assemblies in the Western Region.
This visit was part of a nationwide oversight exercise aimed at assessing the challenges facing local assemblies and identifying practical measures to improve service delivery.
During the tour, committee members inspected the Bonsa Water Intake and found the River Bonsa so heavily polluted that reports indicate an almost complete absence of aquatic life.
Reflecting on the dire situation at the site, the MP expressed deep concern regarding the state of local infrastructure.
“I am extremely worried because if we fail in dealing with the galamsey crisis and avoid the politicisation of the issue, we will have no other option than to import water in the next five to ten years. As I speak with you, we no longer have the Bonsa water treatment plant. Since November last year, they have not been able to pump a single bottle of water. The government has spent several millions of Ghana cedis in establishing that plant, but today, the plant is no longer working. The shocking aspect was that while we were on tour in the area, illegal miners were still engaged in their illegal activities.”
Hon. Marfo underscored the urgent need for the government to intensify its fight against illegal mining and deal ruthlessly with perpetrators, regardless of their status or political affiliations. He concluded by calling for a more proactive approach from law enforcement.
“Our security services must be up and doing and crush all those involved in galamsey, regardless of who they are.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana