Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in the Eastern Region, Mr Kwadwo Daase has said that the country is losing the fight against Galamsey this year.
Speaking to Starr Fm’s Francis Abban, Monday, Mr. Kwadwo Daase said that institution 0f the ban the previous years really helped River Birem, the main tapping source for the company in the region gain its raw water quality to enable proper treatment for consumption by consumers.
“When the ban came, It really helped us because before the ban, somewhere like Kyebi, the plant was suspended, Bunso was also on the verge of shutdown. Then just after the ban came into being, we realized there’s been drastic change in terms of the raw water quality and it really helped us. Even Osino at that time was also off; Osino also came on stream and then all these plants were really functioning as expected. But, I mean, just as we entered this year, I think the fight, we are losing it,. I mean, let me admit. I think what we are seeing this year is really sending us back to those days before the ban and i think all concerned state agencies and stakeholder should really com on board and let’s preserve our water bodies because we don’t want to enter that prediction whereby if we don’t take care Ghana will start importing water from neighbouring countries. And even with that one, how sure are we that they will come to our aid?” he said.
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According to him, the Ghana Water Company Limited in the Eastern Region is concerned primarily about the River Birem where they tap raw water from for treatment at five different downstream basins. Of the five, the areas that have suffered most has been the point at Bunso and Osino.
He said the Bunso downstream point for instance, which could record water clarity (turbidity) as low 50 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) now records turbidity levels as high as 3000 NTU (meaning very low water clarity). “Bunso is where currently, we are facing serious challenge and the issue I believe is because of the forest cover around that area. And our plant is inside that forest and he impact of the mining activities there in the forest is really, really affecting us. Can you imagine that last week we had to suspend the plant for about four times?” he added
These plants have had to be shutdown for a number of times which he says reduces performance. He adds that the plants at Bunso and Osino are very old affecting their operation because when the turbidity goes beyond 2000 NTU, they cannot operate meanwhile turbidity in recent times have gone as high as 22000, 14000 and 18000 NTU which he says is very bad.
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Due to this challenge, Mr.Daase said they are unable to produce the expected level of water for a large number of people in the region and if this continued they will be forced to now shutdown operations.
Again, Mr. Daase said that although Operation Vanguard and other agencies tasked to help curb the menace were able to carryout their operations the illegal miners come back later because they [Operation Vanguard] cannot be there 24/7.
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Answering the question as to whether there were alternative means to turn to, Mr. Daase also questioned how a reliable an alternative like drilling mechanized boreholes for treatment and supply can be, especially with the use.
He said however that the company is in touch with all the stake holders to help control the situation.
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