The Board Chairman of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has revealed that illegal mining, also known as galamsey, has increased production costs by more than 30%.
Mr. Patrick Yaw Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central, expressed concern that illegal mining is jeopardizing GWCL’s operations.
According to the MP, the company is currently burdened by large sums of money spent on chemicals to treat high turbidity levels of raw water at various extraction stations.
“The illegal mining activities pose serious challenges because the chemicals used to treat the water are expensive.” We spend a significant amount of money on water treatment. Our chemical purchases have increased because we want to ensure that the water is treated and that no infections occur. Chemical prices are rising, and we need more chemicals to treat the water due to heavy pollution and high turbidity levels.”
Mining activities, illegal connections, pipeline destruction by contractors, encroachment on distribution lines, and non-payment of bills, he added, are impeding the progress of their operations.
He stated that while survival is important, we cannot allow people to destroy our water bodies and endanger our existence through illegal mining.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
