The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has committed GH¢8.4 million towards the rehabilitation of three Ghana Water Limited (GWL) treatment plants whose operations have been severely disrupted by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The agreement, signed between GoldBod and GWL, will fund rehabilitation works at the Bonsa, Daboase and Sekyere Heman Water Supply Systems in the Western and Central regions to restore production capacity and improve the supply of potable water to thousands of consumers.
The intervention comes against the backdrop of increasing destruction of water bodies by illegal mining activities, which have polluted major rivers serving as raw water sources for GWL treatment plants.
The contamination has raised turbidity levels, increased chemical consumption, damaged treatment equipment and, in some instances, forced the temporary shutdown of facilities.
The Bonsa Water Treatment Plant, which serves the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, has been one of the hardest hit. Illegal mining along the Bonsa River has caused extensive siltation and pollution, making it difficult for the plant to abstract and treat raw water. At one point, operations were suspended after excessive silt blocked the plant’s intake point.
The Daboase Water Treatment Plant, which supplies parts of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and adjoining communities, has also struggled with rising turbidity caused by mining-related pollution.
The heavier sediment load has increased chemical usage, placed enormous strain on equipment and significantly raised operational costs.
Similarly, the Sekyere Heman Water Supply System has suffered repeated operational setbacks as sludge and silt deposits from polluted water sources continue to disrupt treatment processes and damage infrastructure.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, said the Board approved the intervention after conducting an independent technical assessment of the affected facilities.
According to him, the project forms part of GoldBod’s broader commitment to promoting responsible mining, restoring degraded environments and improving the welfare of communities affected by mining activities.
“This intervention demonstrates our commitment to responsible mining, environmental sustainability and improving the lives of Ghanaians,” Mr Gyamfi stated.
The Managing Director of Ghana Water Limited, Adam Mutawakilu, described the partnership as timely, saying it would help restore the operational efficiency of the affected plants and improve water supply to beneficiary communities.
He noted that the collaboration underscored the importance of safeguarding critical national infrastructure while addressing the growing demand for safe and reliable drinking water.
The rehabilitation initiative comes at a time when Ghana’s water sector continues to bear the heavy cost of illegal mining.
Pollution of rivers has not only escalated treatment costs but has also heightened public health and environmental concerns as water utilities struggle to treat increasingly contaminated raw water.
Water sector experts have consistently warned that many conventional treatment plants were not designed to process the exceptionally high levels of silt and pollutants now entering rivers as a result of galamsey.
Beyond restoring the three affected facilities, the GoldBod-GWL partnership is expected to contribute to wider efforts to reverse the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining while improving access to safe drinking water in the Western and Central regions.
Officials of both institutions pledged to implement sustainable measures aimed at protecting Ghana’s water resources, strengthening critical public infrastructure and ensuring reliable water supply for affected communities.
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The post GoldBod Pumps GH¢8.4m Into 3 GWL Water Plants appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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