Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Emmanuel Armah- Kofi Buah has revealed that the state of rivers affected by illegal mining in Ghana, are beyond treatment or reversal.
The minister in an interview monitored by happyghana.com indicated that the issue of galamsey had been a significantly pressing issue to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource even before his induction into office.
The Minister explained that the infiltration of forest reserves in Ghana, have majorly led to the loss of water bodies in Ghana. “Out of the 280 forest reserves in Ghana, 44 of them have been completely destroyed to the extent that 9 of them, we’ve lost control. Armed gangs have taken over. The forestry commission and the forest guards had not even entered those forest areas for two years.” he said.
“The Brim, The Pra, The Ankobra, the main water systems; remember that 80% of our water source comes from the forest and so when these forests are completely being destroyed it impacts directly affect these water bodies. The turbidity levels as I have described were completely out of control.”
Mr. Buah further noted that the damage that has been caused to these water bodies have rendered them beyond treatment on account of their high turbidity levels.
” The turbidity levels is supposed to be 0 to 500 but as we speak it was 5,000 to 12,000 making it impossible to be treated. ”
