Offinso (Ash), March 24, GNA - Mr Kenneth B. Maison, Ashanti Regional Chief Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), has expressed worry about timber felling and farming inside the catchment area of the Barekese Dam, the main source of water supply to Kumasi and its environs.

He noted that these activities had become a veritable threat to the future of water supply and must, therefore, be brought to an end. Mr Maison was addressing a durbar held at Offinso to mark the regional celebration of the World Water Day.

The theme for the celebration was: "Water and Disaster". The Chief Manager appealed to farmers threatening to take back their lands lost following the construction of the dam for non-payment of compensation to re-think their action.

He pledged that they would soon receive their compensation. Mr Maison said although Ashanti did not have water problem, if people did not change their attitudes and ensure that water bodies in the Region were kept intact, there could be water shortages for future generations.

Mr Kwesi Eyiah-Mensah, Assistant Programme Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), identified sand winning as one of the major activities destroying water bodies in the Region. He called on the people to support the Agency to clamp down on those whose activities were causing harm to water sources and the environment.