The Management of Ghana Water Limited Central Region has attributed the current water crisis in Cape Coast, Elmina, and surrounding communities to illegal mining activities.

It explained that the recent demand-supply gap is a result of inadequate raw water received at the Sekyere Hemang Water Treatment Plant (WTP) as a result of galamsey. 

GWCL said the pollution of the Pra River along its course and most especially at the catchment for abstraction has reduced water embarkment to the barest minimum.

“About sixty percent (60%) of the catchment capacity is silted as a result of illegal mining (galamsey) compromising the quality of raw water. We are currently recording an average turbidity of 14,000 NTU instead of 2000 NTU designed for adequate treatment. Currently, the plant is able to produce only about 7,500 m3/day, a quarter of its installed capacity,” it said in a release on August 31, 2024.

The company apologized to customers for the inconveniences, and we sincerely apologize for this.

“We are by this announcement entreating all interest groups to join the fight against galamsey on the River Pra, especially during this festive period. Kindly report any form of illegal mining activity to your community leaders, local assembly, etc., and support our initiatives to protect our water bodies and promote sustainable water use practices,” the release noted.

SSD/OGB

Watch the latest edition of BizHeadlines below:





Ghana’s leading digital news platform, GhanaWeb, in conjunction with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, is embarking on an aggressive campaign which is geared towards ensuring that parliament passes comprehensive legislation to guide organ harvesting, organ donation, and organ transplantation in the country.

Click here to follow the GhanaWeb Business WhatsApp channel