A coalition of environmental NGOs have dismissed government’s decision to mine in the Atewa Forest Reserve revealing that potable water supply to almost 5 million people will be affected.

According to the Coalition, Greater Accra Region, Eastern and Central Regions will be the hardest hit areas.

They added many towns with these Regions have their water source from three rivers which flow from the Atewa Forest Reserve.

“Atewa Range is the source of three important rivers, Densu, Birim and Ayensu, providing water for adjacent communities and downstream users in the Greater Accra Region. The rivers from Atewa Forest feed the Weija Reservoir in Accra which is managed by the GWCL to ensure that close to three million users get potable water on a daily basis”

It was also disclosed that “for communities in Accra who don’t have access to the water, the rivers from Atewa ensures that more than three million people have access to clean water”

The coalition which is speared headed by A Rocha Ghana made these remarks at a press conference organised on Wednesday, 05 July 2017.

The press conference was in reaction to government’s decision to use bauxite found within the Atewa Range as leverage for a $15 billion joint venture with China.

According to Vice President, Dr. Bawumia, only 5per cent of the bauxite will be exploited.

Rejecting the government’s justification of mining within the Range, the coalition believes that considering the value and worth of the Atewa Forest, government could turn their attention to other bauxite-rich areas.

They explained that the revenue to be accrued from mining within the Atewa Range will never be able to redeem it from the damage it will cause.

“Atewa Range is a very special place, irreplaceable and incomparable to any place in Ghana and for which reason we are calling on government to spare Atewa Forest from bauxite mining mine and forever” they noted