Ghana suspends water treatment plant due to pollution from illegal gold mining activities.
The Environmental Impact of Illegal Gold Mining in Ghana
Ghana’s largest water utility, Ghana Water Co., has temporarily closed down its main treatment plant that supplies potable water to Tarkwa and its surrounding areas in the country’s west. The shutdown follows a surge in illegal gold mining, locally known as «galamsey,» which has heavily polluted the river that serves as the primary water source for the plant.
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- Galamsey activities on River Bonsa have forced the closure of the treatment plant.
- Ghana Water Co. produces 75% of the drinking water for Tarkwa and neighboring areas.
- Rising gold prices have led to increased illegal mining in Ghana, despite lax regulations.
While major mining companies like AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, and Newmont operate large-scale mining operations in Ghana, it is the small-scale, informal gold-mining sector that is being blamed for the environmental degradation caused by galamsey. The swift action taken by Ghana Water Co. highlights the seriousness of the issue and the urgency to address it.
The ecological burden of illegal gold mining became a prominent campaign issue in the recent elections, leading to the ousting of the incumbent administration. Ghanaians are now calling on the new government to shut down all illegal gold mines to protect the environment.
As Ghana inaugurates its new president, John Mahama, today, it is hoped that his administration will prioritize environmental protection and take decisive action to curb illegal gold mining activities. The future of Ghana’s water resources and ecosystems depends on it.
