Densu River threatened by ‘galamsey’ activities

Illegal mining at Potrase in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region, poses a severe threat to the Densu River, a crucial water source.

The river’s rising turbidity levels now endanger potable water supplies for three million Ghanaians, heightening food insecurity in the process.

At Potrase, illegal mining activities are relentlessly stripping away the earth’s cover and watershed. Buffer zones are ignored, and the river’s path is being destroyed with impunity.

The once-revered Densu River is now heavily polluted, with turbidity levels soaring above 200 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU). The acceptable turbidity value for drinking water is 5 NTU, while the range for other uses is 80-150 NTU. Shockingly, the Densu River’s turbidity level has now surpassed 230 NTU.

This situation puts the Ghana Water Company’s intake point from the river at significant risk. Over three million residents in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions, who rely on potable water from the Weija Dam and other plants along the Densu Basin, may soon face water shortages.

Statistics reveal that 74% of the population in Greater Accra and the Tema Municipal areas depend on the Densu River.

Illegal mining activities have also targeted parts of the Apedwa and Atewa forests, further exacerbating environmental devastation and threatening the Densu Basin.

Smallholder farmers are already feeling the impact, losing their lands and the ability to diversify crops.

“I’ve been in this community for decades. My three-acre groundnut farmland has been taken over by illegal mining activities,” lamented Emmanuel Agbodo.

Crop traders now have to travel long distances to source produce, raising concerns about food insecurity.

“The potable water is no longer safe. Our children are suffering from skin abrasions. We can no longer find produce locally; we have to travel to Nkurakan and Suhum, which increases costs,” a concerned trader Comfort Konor explained.

Local leaders argue that alternative measures to deter the youth from illegal mining need to be revisited.

“They say they have no employment. If they were provided with the right tools, it could stop illegal mining and even help them protect the forest and water resources,” stated Cynthia Dansowaa, the Assemblywoman of Potrase.

Our investigation reveals that the miners lack the necessary licenses and permits from the Minerals Commission to operate. Regulators seem overwhelmed by the scale of the devastation.

The Assistant Officer for the Densu Basin at the Water Resources Commission Kaba Abekah, stated, “The last time we checked, we recorded 231 NTU. The situation in Potrase is not isolated—mining activities are ongoing in Apedwa and Odumase communities along the Densu Basin as well.”

He added, “We are intensifying monitoring activities in that zone, shifting from annual to monthly assessments to better track the ecological and water regime.”

The Eastern Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Felix Addo-Okyireh, warned of an imminent water crisis due to the loss of the watershed from mining activities.

“The Densu River has become highly turbid and is likely to dry up during the dry season because the vegetation cover has been removed. The situation is critical,” he warned.

He called for immediate action: “This is the time for the taskforce, District Management Council, EPA, and Minerals Commission to act. The concession belongs to a mining company called Akooko, whose license, lease, and permits have long expired. However, they are still giving out the land for illegal mining and galamsey.”

Landscape Manager of A ROCHA, Hopeson Eli Etsra stressed that without strict enforcement of laws, environmental sustainability and the government’s Sustainable Development Goals targets cannot be achieved by 2030.

“We must walk the talk. Livehoods, water source, health is in danger. There are many excellent laws designed to protect the environment, but the issue is implementation. We need commitment and political will to ensure the right actions are taken. Institutions like the EPA and Water Resources Commission must be allowed to work without interference. That’s the only solution we have. As I speak, about three million Ghanaians are at risk of losing access to potable water,” he bemoaned.

 

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