GWCL Shuts Down Bonsa Headworks After Galamsey Activities Destroy Water Source
- The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has shut down the Bonsa Headworks due to severe pollution of the river by illegal miners
- The GWCL noted that the river has been so badly polluted that it is unable to pump water for filtration
- The GWCL disclosed that the Bonsa Headworks provide the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality with 75% of its water needs
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The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality in the Western Region is set to experience extreme water scarcity following the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL's) decision to shut down the Bonsa Headworks.
The Bonsa Headworks supply the Tarkwa-Nsuaem municipality in the Western Region with 75% of its potable water needs.
Source: UGC
According to GWCL, the decision stems from the severe impact of illegal mining activities, also known as galamsey, on the Bonsa River.
The utility company explained that the Bonsa River has become so polluted it is impossible to extract and treat water from the river for distribution.
The Tarkwa District Manager of the GWCL, Wuson Doe Akoto, in a statement dated January 2, 2025, explained that all efforts to reduce the pollution caused by galamsey activities have proven futile.
He said the company has been left with no choice but to suspend operations at the facility.
The GWCL also expressed concern about illegal miners' destruction of water bodies and urged stakeholders, including local authorities and law enforcement agencies, to act decisively to end the menace and restore the river.
Meanwhile, Doe Akoto said the GWCL will continue to monitor the river in the hopes that its turbidity level will return to acceptable levels so that production can restart.
On the other hand, Foreign Policy and Security Analyst Adib Saani told YEN.com.gh that there was a need to involve community folk in the fight against galamsey.
"We need to diversify our approach because this is a multi-dimensional issue that requires a multi-dimensional approach; for example, people use it as a means of survival. There are no jobs, so what do we do to cushion them if we ask them to stop galamsey?
"All of these are legitimate issues that we need to address if we really want to stop this once and for all."
GWCL warns Cape Coast could run out of water
The management of the Ghana Water Company Limited in the Central Region in August 2024 said it faced challenges in supplying potable water to Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities.
The GWCL stated that its challenge stemmed from the inadequacy of raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) due to the activities of illegal miners on the River Pra.
The GWCL, in a press statement issued on Friday, August 30, 2024, stated that the pollution of the River Pra, particularly at the catchment area for abstraction, had greatly affected water intake, reducing it to the barest minimum.
The GWCL explained that about 60 percent of the catchment capacity was silted, which greatly affected raw water quality.
The company had been recording an average turbidity of 14,000 NTU instead of 2,000 NTU expected for adequate treatment.
The situation also affected the plant's output. The Company, at the time, said it could produce only about 7,500m³/day, a quarter of its installed capacity.
It said the situation had caused severe inconvenience to customers and consumers.
The company called on stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the menace and entreated all interest groups to join the fight against galamsey on the Pra River.
GWCL says water bodies should be security zones
YEN.com.gh reported that the Ghana Water Company Limited urged the government to declare water bodies as security zones.
Dr Clifford Braimah, GWCL's Managing Director, said the water bodies would be better protected if the Water Resources Commission was under the Defence Ministry.
He explained that destroying the country’s water bodies is a national security issue and must be treated urgently.
Proofread by Samuel Gitonga, Copy Editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
