Government is to set up a permanent committee to oversee the efficient and sustainable management of the Bosomtwe Lake and its resources, which is the source of livelihood for about 30 communities with a population of 70,000.

This comes amid growing concerns about the depletion of the lake’s fish stock as well as pollution.

Mr Akwasi Oppong-Fosu, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), said the committee would be made up of representatives of the Traditional Authorities, the District Assembly, Forestry Commission, Water Resources Commission (WRC) and the Ministry of Fisheries.

He dropped the hint when he visited Abono, one of the communities in its basin, as part of a two-day official tour of the Ashanti Region.

Lake Bosomtwe, a natural lake is situated within an ancient meteorite crater and about eight kilometres in diameter is one of the country’s major tourist attraction centres.

Mr Oppong-Fosu said aside its economic importance it is also a significant national heritage.

He said this is why MESTI would go to every length to make sure that it the lake is properly preserved to continue to sustain the livelihood of the people.

He said the committee would work with stakeholders in the lake basin to ensure that the right things are done.

Mr Mark Osa Arkong of the WRI of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research informed the Minister that UNESCO is sponsoring a collaborative research into the sustainable management of the lake.

He said the research was prompted by complaints from the local people that “the lake is shrinking and the fish stock, the mainstay of economy of the area, has kept reducing both in size and quantity”.

Mr Arkong said preliminary investigations showed that there is severe pressure on the lake due to various human activities, polluting and affecting aquatic activities.