GALAMSEY AT ADONGO POLLUTES TANO RIVER

From: Michael Sarpong MFUM, Adongo

The activities of illegal miners popularly called galamsey at Adongo in the Tano North district of the Brong Ahafo Regio is polluting the Tano River the only source where the Ghana Water Treatment Plant at Abesim takes raw water from. The Ghana Water Company Limited in Sunyani has threatened to shut down its treatment Plant at Abesim if the activities of illegal miners at Adongo are not stopped.

Representatives from the Water Resources Commission, Ghana Water Company Limited and the Environmental Protection Agency have paid a familiarization visited the Adongo community to find out the impact of the illegal mining in the community. Fully armed police were also on trip to provide adequate security for the personnel.

Residents of the Adongo community are predominantly farmers but for some time now the community has turned the hub of galamsey in the Tano North District.

The illegal miners sensing the presence of the police and the team bolted into the nearby bushes for fear of being arrested. They had dug trenches which makes it very difficult for people to get close to where they engage in their illegal business. One could fall into any of the trenches dug by these galamseyers if care is not taken.

The activities of these galamseyers have polluted the Tano River putting pressure on the Ghana Water Company Limited Plant at Abesim.

Mr Hanson Akutteh Mensah the Brong Ahafo Regional Water Quality Assurance Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) said they would force to shut down the plant if nothing urgently to stop illegal mining negatively affecting their operations.

According to Mr. Mensah, Ghana Water Company Limited is spending more in treating water it takes from the Tano River which is not sustainable and therefore would be forced to shut down its operations if nothing is done stop illegal mining at Adongo. The colour of the river has turned brownish.

 Mr. Solomon Danso-Ankamah Tano Basin Officer expressed his worry about the situation at Adongo and therefore called on the authorities to act swiftly to save the situation. He called on the Regional Security Council to act swiftly to flush the illegal miners from the area.

The team later interacted with the residents of the Adongo community and advised them not to engage in illegal mining as it affects the Tano River.