The Director of Planning at the Water Resources Commission, Dr. Bob Alfa, has disclosed that Ghana is already importing water from other countries.
Speaking on the ‘Roundtable Discussion on Galamsey‘ show on Thursday, November 3, Mr. Alfa indicated that the country is already importing water from other countries and so he is always surprise when he hears people saying; the country will soon be importing water.
“I hear people say all the time that if we don’t take time, we will soon import water. When we say Ghana is importing water, we often look at the physical importation but on the face of it, that is already happening. We are importing labour and tools into our water supply mechanisms.”
“Whatever we consume is produced with water and if you don’t develop your water resources, and then you import some country’s products, what you are importing is what they have done as far as their water development is concerned.”
Mr Bob
Mr Bob, however, indicated that the activities of illegal miners at various sites have caused great damage to our various water bodies such as River Offin and Pra.
He further blamed the issue on the country’s lack of investment in its water resources.
Dr Bob Alfa in his submission, sent a stark warning that if illegal mining activities popularly known as galamsey, are not dealt with within the next six months, the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) will not be able to provide treated and drinkable water for various homes.
“In the short term, we will not get treated water at all, and we will have to shut down and most of the equipments will be destroyed.”
Mr Bob
Dr Alfa mentioned that ‘in the long term, agriculture will be affected, food security will be affected, and economic growth will suffer. He added that It is a complete system and the livelihood of Ghanaians is on the line as well.
Interventions To Ensure Water Production For Mass Comsumption
On the same platform, the Eastern Regional Water Quality Assurance Manager of the Ghana water Company limited (GWCL), Mr. Moses Paintsil, highlighted some interventions done, to ensure the production of water for mass consumption.
According to him, the cost of treating water the Odaso WTP has jumped from GHS 29,785 to GHS 89,598. He disclosed that the government spends ten times the cost to treat water at the Konongo Treatment Plant.
“In 2016 we were using about GHS 29,785 to buy the treatment chemicals to treat the water, but currently in 2022, we are doing GHS 89,598.
“However, the instution developed interventions to help produce quality water for the country.”
Mr Painstil
He Disclosed that, the GWCL now uses new and more expensive treatment chemical during the treatment of water, specifically ‘Polyelectrolyte’, which is about ten times more expensive than the usual alum.
He further indicated that the company now changes pumps frequently, that is, pump lifespan has been reduced.
Some of the interventions also include; the adoption of groundwater or borehole systems for water supply as well as new treatment facilities.
“What we are doing now is that, we are designing a new treatment plant. We had to put up a new treatment facility which we call the off river reservior, which helps us to store raw water for about three months.”
Mr Painstil
Mr Painstil revealed that GWCL as part of the interventions, is holding various stakeholders engagement with illegal miners to come out with a proper solution to the menance which is one of the greatest cause of water pollution in the country.
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