KUMASI SITS ON TIME BOMB AS BAREKESE RESERVOIR IS POLLUTED BY GALAMSEY, OTHER ACTIVITIES

“As most of you are aware, Kumasi and its environs depend largely on the Barekese reservoir for water supply. Indeed, a significant population of  the Kumasi Metropolis of over 1 million people depend on this Reservoir for domestic water supply and industrial use.

Recently, the Barekese Water Treatment Plant was expanded to supply 30 million gallons of water per day and the catchment re-afforested to protect and improve its ecological integrity. The Barekeae reservoir from 2005,to 2012 had fairly good water quality, but deteriorated to the poor water quality category from 2013 to 2014”.

Nana Agyewodin Professor Adu Gyamfi Ampem, the Omanhene of Akyerensua Traditional area who is also the Chairperson for Water Resources Commission (WRC), made the above observation at a press conference held at Ramsey Presbyterian Church Conference hall,Adum-Kumasi .

Speaking on the urgent need to protect the Barekese Resevoir, Nana Ampem said “we are here to share with you some concerns on current development on a valued source of water supply for the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs and a looming disaster, which is of our mutual interest”.

The Chairperson of Water Resources Commission said since 2005,the Commission has been monitoring the quality of our water bodies and category the quality of an entire water body as either good, fairly good, poor, or grossly polluted.

The major factors for the gradual deterioration of the water quality include: uncontrolled infrastructure development such as the sitting of domestic dwelling at unauthorized locations within the catchment area, indiscriminate harvesting of wood along and around the watercourse and the reservoir; and use of agrochemical in farming.Nana Prof.Ampem lamented that since 2012, the PRA Basin Board and its Secretariat of the water Resources Commission ,has been operating as the key coordinating body for the Off in sub-basin including the Lake Bosomtwe .He said  the Commission mentioned some of the interventions of the Board have been to collaborate with relevant local institutions in the proper management of the water resources, public awareness and education campaigns, engagement and training of selected Communities for the protection of water sources, and the training of police investigators and prosecutors for the enforcement of rules and regulations.

According to him, unfortunately, despite these and other complementary interventions  by other relevant institutions, they have observed that illegal artisanal mining (galamsey) previously absent within the Barekease catchment has come up at Nkwantakese in the Afigya Kwabre district, which is upstream of the catchment.

He said Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has within the past two weeks or so had no option than to close down three of its water intake facilities all due to the effects of illegal artisan mining. Explaining that, the closure of these facilities implies the absence of good drinking water and the search for alternative sources, which may be expensive and not safe for use.

The Chairperson admitted that, the state of the water sources of these water intake facilities prior to their closure is also a major public health and economic concern.

While the quantities of chemicals used treatment and their Costa increased, it is the final consumer-you, industry , and I – who ultimately bears the health and economic coats.

The Paramount a chief of Akyerensua admitted we are therefore confronted with a similar and more catastrophic situation with the emergence of the illegal and inappropriate mining in the Barekese catchment. We are at a crucial moment leading up to a situation which requires decisive urgent, pragmatic and collaborative measures and actions on a variety of fronts.

Adding that, water is now a national security concern. Therefore the lasting solution is to introduce permanent security to secure and operate the area as a security zone as has been done in the Weija catchment since August 2015,.

The Paramount Chief and Chairperson for the Commission said “, all should begin to adopt and promote the culture of prevention in the use of water to sustain the quality of our water resources. This is not for playing the blame game. It is also not the time for either sectorial action or inaction. It is time to focus minds and take collective actions”, he added.

Present at the press conference were Madam Adwoa Darko, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Commission, The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr.,Ben Ampomah, Juliana Konadu Prempeh, the representative of Bosomtwe  among others