The Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources, Gilbert Adjie, has announced that government is resetting the country’s legal and policy framework to strengthen water governance and protect natural resources.
Speaking at the maiden launch of World Rivers Day in Accra, the Minister disclosed that a Legislative Instrument (LI) on buffer zones will soon be enacted. The regulation will provide legal protection for river corridors, prevent encroachment, and safeguard water resources for future generations.
He stressed that enforcement will be uncompromising, warning that offenders who pollute or destroy water bodies through illegal mining and other harmful activities will face strict penalties. Government, he added, will intensify the fight against illegal mining while creating alternative livelihoods for young people in affected communities.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Hydrological Department, Dr. Sylvester Darko, also announced plans to collaborate with stakeholders and partners to provide accurate and reliable hydrological data. He explained that the initiative will strengthen water resource management, improve planning and decision-making, enhance flood early-warning systems, and advance scientific research into innovative water technologies.
